Newsstand: USC coach Lincoln Riley reveals key wide receiver's status ahead of Notre Dame game
Southern California and reigning Heisman Trophy Caleb Williams winner could be without one of their top pass-catching options in South Bend on Saturday night. USC coach Lincoln Riley told reporters Thursday that freshman wide receiver Zachariah Branch has not fully participated in practice this week.
“Progressing,” Riley said. “Still hasn’t been a full participant yet. I do think he’s making progress. We’ll kind of watch to see, but (he’ll) need to continue to make some jumps here to be ready for us. So, hopefully, he can continue to progress over the next few days.”
The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman missed the last two games due to injury. In the first four games of his collegiate career, Branch hauled in 13 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
Branch is also an electric returner. In the kick return game, he’s returned six kicks for 171 yards (28.5 yards per return) and scored a touchdown. As a punt returner, he’s taken seven boots 158 yards (22.57 yards per return) and found the end zone once.
As a 2023 class recruit, Branch was the No. 4 overall player, No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 prospect in Nevada, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was a Five-Star Plus+recruit, meaning he was a five-star prospect per every primary recruiting service.
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Sticking with the recruiting theme, Fighting Irish 2024 wide receiver commit Cam Williams earned five-star status on Thursday.
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“I haven’t been there. Watching ‘Rudy’ is probably the closest thing, which I’ve probably seen 5,000 times.”
— USC coach Lincoln Riley, when asked if he has ever been to Notre Dame.
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