Zachariah Branch is a Walter Camp Preseason All-American

USC wide receiver and special teams standout Zachariah Branch was selected to the 2024 Walter Camp Football Foundation preseason All-America team on Monday.

Branch was selected as the First Team kick returner for the 2024 preseason team. He was a 2023 Second Team Walter Camp All-America selection as a kick returner following his outstanding freshman season.

Branch led the nation in punt returns this past season, averaging 20.8 yards per return. He finished No. 3 in combined punt and kickoff return yards, with 774. Branch also returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns, both coming in the first three games of his college career. He joined Jackson and Curtis Conway as the only three USC players since at least 1971 with a punt return, kickoff return and receiving touchdown in the same season.

Branch will be the face of the USC offense heading into the 2024 season as the Trojans have little returning production at key positions. He is part of a dynamic quartet of sophomore receivers, along with Duce Robinson, Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon that could put up big numbers for quarterback Miller Moss. Branch specifically has the type of talent that could land him on postseason teams at both receiver and returner.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver:  Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

Tight End:  Colston Loveland (Michigan)

Offensive Line:  Clay Webb (Jacksonville State) #, Tate Ratledge (Georgia), Tyler Booker (Alabama), Will Campbell (LSU)

Center:  Cooper Mays (Tennessee)

Quarterback:  Carson Beck (Georgia)

Running Back:  Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)*, Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)*

Placekicker:  Graham Nicholson (Alabama)*

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive Line:  James Pearce, Jr. (Tennessee), Howard Cross III (Notre Dame) #, Ashton Gillotte (Louisville) #, Tyleik Williams (Ohio State) #

Linebacker:  Jay Higgins (Iowa) #, Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma) #, Jason Henderson (Old Dominion)*

Defensive Back:  Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)*, Travis Hunter Jr. (Colorado), Malaki Starks (Georgia)*, Will Johnson (Michigan)

Punter:  Alex Mastromanno (Florida State)

Kick Returner:  Zachariah Branch (USC)#

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver:  Ricky White III (UNLV), Luthur Burden III (Missouri)

Tight End:  Bryson Nesbit (North Carolina)

Offensive Line:  Luke Kandra (Cincinnati) #, Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas), Ajani Cornelius (Oregon), Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)

Center: Parker Brailsford (Alabama)

Quarterback:  Quinn Ewers (Texas)

Running Back:  Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech)

Placekicker:  Andrew Borregales (Miami)

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive Line: Peter Woods (Clemson), Mason Graham (Michigan), Deone Walker (Kentucky), Landon Jackson (Arkansas)

Linebacker:  Harold Perkins (LSU), Barrett Carter (Clemson), Abdul Cater (Penn State)

Defensive Back:  Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), Denzel Burke (Ohio State) #, Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

Punter:  James Burnip (Alabama)

Kick Returner:  Jayden Harrison (Notre Dame)*

* – 2023 First Team Walter Camp All-America selection

# – 2023 Second Team Walter Camp All-America selection

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