Tennessee lost the race for one of the transfer portal’s coveted wide receivers and will now have to scheme against him instead.
According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday afternoon, former Southern Cal receiver Zachariah Branch and his brother Zion are heading to the Georgia Bulldogs football program.
Branch was a former five-star prospect out of Bishop Gorman High School in the 2023 recruiting class and took his talents to Southern California. In two seasons with the Trojans, Branch recorded 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 78 receptions and also added in 11 carries, one rushing touchdown, 29 punt returns, 29 kick returns, and two return touchdowns.
On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos reported on Dec. 30 that Tennessee was looking to use familiarity in its pursuit of Branch and his brother. The report stated that Tennessee was using wide receiver Bru McCoy in their recruitment and that the Iamaleava family was also involved. Branch and Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava played on the same team during the 2023 Polynesian Bowl and linked up for a touchdown during the game.
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The 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver tallied 320 yards and two touchdowns during his freshman season and improved his numbers to 503 yards and one touchdown in his sophomore campaign.
Zion Branch, a safety one year older than his brother Zachariah, also committed to Georgia from USC alongside his brother.
Branch’s commitment is a tough blow to Tennessee considering the Vols were looking for a standout receiver from the portal and will now have to go up against him next season. The Vols lost a handful of backup receivers to the portal in December but the positive news is that former five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews does intend to return to the Tennessee program during his sophomore season in 2025.
Tennessee is also targeting former Alabama and Florida State wide receiver Malik Nelson out of the portal, who was reportedly set to visit Knoxville this weekend. Nelson is a 6-foot-1 wideout who recorded 25 catches for 311 yards in a horrid Florida State offense last season. Nelson listed a Top 3 of Tennessee, Oregon, and Kansas State on Jan. 3.
Former USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch have committed to Georgia, the brothers told ESPN. The brothers are both former Top 100 recruits who loom as significant additions for the Bulldogs in 2025. pic.twitter.com/xTH9dbBG0S
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2025
