The Branch Brothers are back with impressive performances against Notre Dame

Brothers Zachariah Branch and Zion Branch were on the field playing key roles for the USC Trojans against Notre Dame for the first time in a while. True freshman wide receiver Zachariah sat out the previous two games due to an injury. Redshirt freshman safety Zion played just seven total defensive snaps on those two games.

Zachariah proved quickly this season that he is already USC’s most dynamic threat on offense and special teams. He was at it again in South Bend, returning a fourth-quarter punt 60 yards to give the Trojans some late life and producing a game-high 166 all-purpose yards.

Zion was called upon pretty heavily in this one when free safeties Max Williams and Bryson Shaw were both sidelined due to injury. Branch had been used on some passing downs as an extra defensive back of late, but he got 16 key defensive snaps in this one alongside Calen Bullock.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch did not appear to be concerned about the injuries to Williams and Shaw being long-term. He said both are “battling back” and said they will “see how the week goes.” But he immediately jumped into praise for the way Branch responded when inserted on defense.

“Really appreciate Zion coming in and playing some pretty good football for us at the end,” Grinch said. “He’s a guy coming off an ACL (injury) his freshman year, that’s a tall order over the last whatever it’s been since the summer of ’22…Been pleased with his progress.”

Branch finished with four tackles in the game. The sixteen snaps on defense weren’t a season-high for Branch, but the 27 and 22 he recorded against Nevada and Stanford were in blowout wins. The four tackles against Notre Dame were a season and career-high for Branch, who missed all of the 2022 season and wasn’t fully available for this past spring ball.

“I just feel like I’m getting comfortable playing football again,” Branch said. “Just going out there and doing every movement again, seeing plays in front of me happen. It just comes with more and more reps but I definitely feel like I’m getting more comfortable out there.”

Zachariah Branch Returns in a Big Way

The younger Branch missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury. He came back against Notre Dame to have a 17-yard rush, two receptions for 17 yards, 46 kickoff return yards and 86 punt return yards.

He said the injury occurred during the first quarter against Arizona State, calling it a tweak. USC head coach Lincoln Riley said the Trojans would be smart about how to bring him back. It was notable pregame when Branch came bounding out of the USC locker room to take part in special teams warmups.

“Big game like that, big rivalry, it was important for me to be out there with my teammates,” Branch said.

The 60-yard punt return added to the growing special teams highlight reel Branch is authoring in just five games at this level. Branch said he didn’t see anything to the right, then didn’t see anything to the left, but his blockers sealed the edge and he went for it.

“When I see something, I’ve just got to hit it, got to trust it,” Branch said.

Branch did most of the interview through deep breaths while recovering from some post-practice sprints.

“Can’t get caught,” Branch said of why he was putting in that extra work, adding that his dad called him after the game about the Notre Dame punter getting an angle on him and bringing him down. “He did clown me after the game about my speed. He’s like, ‘You can’t get caught by the last dude.”

While Zachariah has already made a national name for himself, Zion could be in the early stages of doing the same if he continues to see more time in the secondary. Zachariah wasn’t on the roster last season, but he saw what Zion was going through with the injury rehab and looking to battle back in order to make an impact.

“I always knew he was going to be ready for the opportunity,” Zachariah said of his older brother. “I’m very proud of him for bouncing back from that injury and doing everything I know he can do.”