WeAreSC On3: Drake London, Zachariah Branch and Thursday night Friars
A daily three-point briefing recapping the news and notes of USC athletics. Today it’s a look at Drake London’s four-game performance, an interesting offer for Zachariah Branch and a standout performance from Servite’s Big Three.
Drake London’s big start
USC wide receiver Drake London heads into Saturday’s game leading the country in receiving yards and tied for the national lead in receptions. He has at least 10 catches in three of four games and has cemented himself as one of, if not the best receiver in college football.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. placed London at No. 10 overall on his Big Board for the 2022 NFL Draft this week, up ten spots from his previous position.
The USC official account put together a video yesterday highlighting some of London’s exploits this season.
Another USC offer for Branch
Class of 2022 safety Zion Branch (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) is one of USC’s most coveted prospects in this class. His younger brother, 2023 wide receiver Zachariah Branch (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) holds the same status in his class. USC has offered both, but the younger Branch received a second offer from USC. This one from Carmelita Jeter and the Trojans track and field program.
Branch can absolutely fly on the football field and the track. This past May, he posted a school-record 10.33 seconds in the 100 meters.
Servite’s Big Three dominate
A former USC commit and target put together huge performances Thursday night, in a 56-12 win for Anaheim (Calif.) Servite over Orange (Calif.) Lutheran. Tight end Keyan Burnett, a former USC commit, got on the receiving end of a few big passes from Arizona quarterback commit Noah Fifita. Burnett is now committed to Arizona. But Oregon wide receiver commit Tetairoa McMillan stole the show.
McMillan caught nine passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns, but none of those compared to the defensive play he made. McMillan has played some cornerback this season — an interesting sight at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. He made a one-handed interception in the back of the endzone that could be one of the plays of the year in Southern California high school football.
There still could be a lot of twists and turns left in the 2022 recruiting cycle for USC. McMillan was a top target who looked hard at Arizona and USC before committing to Oregon. It’s still too early to tell if USC might be able to get back in the picture for McMillan depending on the head coaching hire, but he’s obviously a prospect the Trojans should chase until the very end.
