Southern California wide receiver Zachariah Branch, along with his older sibling, Trojans safety Zion Branch, has decided to enter the transfer portal. The announcement was made via social media on Tuesday, with rumors circulating that the two may reunite at the same institution for their next playing chapter.
Zachariah expressed his excitement for the future in his post, stating, “While this wasn’t an easy decision, I’m looking forward to what the future holds and am excited for the new opportunities ahead. Thank you, Trojan Family.”
Zion, an elite recruit during his time, faced challenges with injuries, resulting in him recording just 41 tackles over the last two seasons, particularly after spending all of 2022 sidelined due to a lower-body injury. His younger brother, Zachariah, joined USC a year later, entering as a five-star prospect from Las Vegas. Both athletes now retain two years of eligibility.
During his two seasons, Zachariah Branch showcased impressive speed, compiling 78 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns. However, he struggled with drop passes and did not fully meet expectations as a top-tier receiver in Lincoln Riley’s offense, also underperforming as a punt returner with only 74 yards in returns this season.
Zion reflected on his experience at USC, stating, “Playing football at USC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Having the opportunity to be a USC Trojan and suit up alongside my brother made it even more special, and it’s something I’ll always cherish.”
As the Trojans (6-6) prepare for the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M on December 27, they are closing out their second consecutive underwhelming season. Under Riley’s leadership, many of the standout recruits brought in during the initial three years have opted to transfer. From the current roster of receivers, Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson, and Penn State commit Kyron Hudson have already entered the portal, with this group being among the least productive in recent USC history.
Zachariah isn’t alone in seeking a new opportunity in the Big Ten. Wisconsin receivers Will Pauling and CJ Williams have also declared their intentions to transfer. Pauling had a productive season with 74 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns, while Williams recorded 31 catches for 396 yards over two seasons. Both players are set for their second transfers, as Pauling previously moved from Cincinnati to Wisconsin and Williams started out at USC.
In addition, Auburn has successfully recruited two offensive line starters from Power Four programs, including former Trojan Mason Murphy and ex-Virginia Tech player Xavier Chaplin. Chaplin has been a starter for the Hokies for the last two seasons, while Murphy led all players in total and offensive snaps during his time at USC, starting every game last season. Auburn has also secured two transfer quarterbacks, Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma and Ashton Daniels from Stanford.
Moreover, in noteworthy SEC quarterback movements, Luke Kromenhoek announced his transfer from Florida State to Mississippi State. As a freshman, Kromenhoek completed 52.4% of his passes for 502 yards, accumulating three touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the season as the starter in the last two games for Florida State.
Florida State has made additions to their roster too, bringing in edge rusher James Williams from Nebraska, who recorded five sacks this season, and offensive tackle Gunnar Hansen from Vanderbilt, a proven three-year starter.
Boston College welcomed quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who has served as a backup at Alabama for the previous two seasons. In turn, Alabama acquired former Florida edge rusher Kelby Collins. Additionally, Indiana received a boost ahead of its playoff game against Notre Dame with the announcement of former UAB running back Lee Beebe Jr. joining the team next year. Beebe rushed for 885 yards and seven touchdowns this season and added 30 receptions for 219 yards and one score.
