USC head coach Lincoln Riley updates spring plans for Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson
USC standout freshmen wide receivers Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson are both planning to participate in two sports this spring. Branch will run track for the Trojans while Robinson will play baseball.
But head coach Lincoln Riley on Thursday provided an update as to just how much spring ball the two rising sophomores will miss while they are on the track and diamond, respectively.
“They’re not going to miss too much football,” Riley said. “The sports are very, very different.”
Riley said Branch will look to “qualify for some of the bigger meets down the line,” but added that he won’t be running “a full track schedule.” Branch should be available for more spring ball practices and activities than Robinson. But even Robinson won’t be entirely away from football.
“Baseball is certainly more of a challenge,” Riley said. “It’s very doable and we’re fortunate that Andy [Stankiewicz] and that group are so easy to work with.”
Top 10
- 1New
Saban chirped
Big 12 comes after GOAT
- 2
DJ Lagway
Fan flashes Florida QB to Pope
- 3Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 4
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
- 5
3 ACC teams in CFP?
Path for ACC outlined
The challenge for Robinson is that the USC baseball team is pushed off campus this season while Dedeaux Field is rebuilt during the athletic facilities renovations. Riley said they’ve worked through the schedule for Robinson.
“I don’t think Duce is going to miss too much,” Riley said. “He’s got some hours limitations on some of the days that they play. But he’s very serious about both sports and we’re working hard to create a path for him to be successful in both.”
Having Branch and Robinson on the football field in any capacity will be very important for USC this spring. Not only are they two of the best receivers on the team (and perhaps the two best), the receiver position is a spot where USC has extremely limited depth right now. The Trojans lost Brenden Rice and Tahj Washington to the NFL Draft, as well as Michael Jackson III, Dorian Singer, Mario Williams and Raleek Brown to the transfer portal. In exchange for those losses, USC signed just one high school receiver and added one transfer portal receiver this offseason. The Trojans will be looking for a new starting quarterback this spring. Miller Moss and Jayden Maiava will want as many targets out there as possible to continue or begin developing connections.
