Zacharia and Zion Branch to enter transfer portal, dealing USC a blow

Zachariah Branch, USC’s electric sophomore receiver and returner, and his older brother Zion, who plays safety for the Trojans, are planning to enter the transfer portal, a person familiar with the decision but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times, becoming the latest lauded prospects to join the exodus out of Troy.

When the two brothers signed to play at USC — Zion in 2022 and Zachariah in 2023 — their separate arrivals were seen as landmark recruiting victories for Trojan coach Lincoln Riley. Zachariah Branch was a top-10 recruit and the nation’s No. 1 receiver prospect. Zion was no slouch, either — a four-star safety who checked in at 58th overall in the 2022 class.

Now as they depart USC, the Branch brothers will be no doubt two of the most coveted players in the transfer portal, with both expected to sign with their new team together.

Their exit, while not entirely unexpected, is an especially brutal blow to the Trojans, who have watched top prospects leave in droves the past two years. Zachariah, who ranked seventh in the 2023 class, is the highest-rated prospect to leave USC since Riley took over. But losing Branch continues an especially concerning trend for the Trojans coach.

Of the 12 top-100 recruits Riley signed through his first three years at USC, nine of those players have since transferred. The four five-star prospects signed in that span — Branch, cornerback Domani Jackson, wideout Duce Robinson and quarterback Malachi Nelson — have all left the program and gone elsewhere.

Zachariah Branch looked like one of the most dynamic weapons in all of college football as a freshman, as he flashed his blazing speed and playmaking ability in the open field. He became the first USC player ever named as a freshman All-American, scoring a touchdown as a receiver, rusher, kick and punt returner.

The sky seemed like the limit for Branch — and high expectations followed — as Riley and USC’s staff challenged Branch to become a more complete receiver as a sophomore. But Branch never quite delivered on that promise in his second season. He still led the Trojans in receptions (47), but was supplanted as the Trojans top receiver by fellow sophomore Makai Lemon late in the season.

Over his two seasons at USC, Branch tallied 78 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for another 87 yards and a touchdown.

“What an incredible journey it’s been here at USC,” Branch wrote on social media. “While this wasn’t an easy decision, I’m looking forward to what the future holds and excited for the new opportunities ahead.”

He’s the third of USC’s top five receivers from this season to enter the transfer portal, joining Duce Robinson and Kyron Hudson, the latter of which has since signed with Penn State.

Zion Branch, his older brother, dealt with season-ending injuries in each of his first two seasons at USC, but played in all 12 games this season as a redshirt sophomore, tallying 19 tackles and three pass breakups. He was expected to compete for a major role in USC’s secondary next season, the entirety of which will likely need to be replaced.

USC has now seen 18 players enter the transfer portal since it wrapped up its 6-6 season. None are likely to be as coveted as the Branch brothers.