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Zachariah Branch earns more All-America recognition

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney12/11/23ErikTMcKinney
Zachariah Branch
USC Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) runs the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) defends in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. (Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports)

Postseason recognition continues to roll in for USC true freshman Zachariah Branch. After becoming the first-ever USC true freshman football player to earn First-Team All-American honors with his inclusion on the USA Today first team, Branch landed on the Second Team for both the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Football Writers Association of America as a kick returner.

Both the WCFF and FWAA All-America teams are used to determine Unanimous and Consensus All-America status, along with the Associated Press, The Sporting News and American Football Coaches Association. Players must be named to the first team on all five to be considered Unanimous All-Americans, and must be named to at least three in order to be considered Consensus All-Americans.

No USC Trojan will achieve either this season with three of the five teams already announced. But Branch continues to see his name listed among the best in college football. He was the only freshman named to either the WCFF or FWAA All-America teams.

He finished the regular season leading the nation in punt return average, at 20.6 yards per return. He is second overall in combined kickoff and punt return yardage and returned both a kickoff and punt for a score this season.

Since 1971, Branch is just one of three USC players to score a touchdown on a punt return, kickoff return and reception in the same season. His kickoff return touchdown covered 96 yards against San Jose State and his punt return touchdown was a 75-yarder against Stanford.

Branch was beaten out for First-Team honors on both teams by Marshall’s Jayden Harrison. He led the nation in kickoff return average at 31.9 yards per return and had two kickoff return touchdowns.

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