WR Zachariah Branch (Two-time returning starter at USC)

Branch played in all 12 games and made eight starts during the 2024 season and finished tied for the team reception lead with 47 catches and was second with 503 yards, both career highs. He scored one touchdown. He went through a slump as a returner after being one of the best in the country in 2023. Branch averaged just 5.7 yards per punt return in 2024 and only returned five kickoffs after being replaced by Makai Lemon.

Per Pro Football Focus, Branch played 490 offensive snaps in 2024 and led the team with 73 targets, lining up in the slot on 78 percent of his snaps. Branch was utilized predominantly in the short passing game, with 64 percent of his targets coming within ten yards of the line of scrimmage. As for intermediate passes, Branch caught 7-of-17 passes that traveled 10 to 19 yards past the line of scrimmage for 133 yards.

According to PFF, Branch has only dropped six catchable passes on 117 targets in his career. Branch can improve in his game by coming down with contested catches, as PFF credits him with reeling in 3-of-14 contested catch targets.

Branch had a historic freshman season as the first true freshman first-team All-American in USC history. He was named as a returner after posting 24 kickoffs for 442 yards, a touchdown, and 15 punt returns for 309 yards and a score. He averaged 18.4 yards per kick return and 20.6 yards per punt return, which led the nation.
Arriving at USC as a five-star prospect out of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman, Zion ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect and the No. 1 receiver in the nation in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports. He clocked a 10.33 in the 100 meters as a sophomore in high school, with a 24-foot long jump and a 46-foot, 4-inch triple jump.