Zachariah Branch Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

USC freshman Zachariah Branch looked like Reggie Bush in his first game for Trojans

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 8/28/23

There will never be another Reggie Bush at USC, but freshman wide receiver Zachariah Branch sure looked the part in the Trojans' "Week 0" win over San Jose State.

Sure, Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams will get most of the press coming out of the game thanks to his four touchdown passes, but Branch was undoubtedly electric in his first-ever college football game.

Branch caught his first career pass -- a 25-yard touchdown catch and run -- midway through the third quarter. He took a Williams pass in the flats, made a few defenders miss and flashed speed and elusively that had already been on display a few times in the first half.

He's only a freshman

Zachariah Branch had himself a night! pic.twitter.com/PQuhJruX24
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) August 27, 2023

His coup de grâce came later in the quarter, though, when he took a kickoff 96 yards all the way to paydirt. It wasn't just a straight shot either on that kick return. He showed off top-end speed, vision, and maneuverability.

In all, he was so electric in his debut that he drew comparisons to Bush, which is no small deal at USC.

Zachariah Branch has played less than 3 quarters of college football and he’s drawing Reggie Bush comparisons from the broadcast.

And they might be warranted.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 27, 2023

Zachariah Branch's performance wasn't just a "good debut." There was some very real SPECIAL on display in the Coli. Gave me Reggie Bush vibes

Full video: https://t.co/JhyqWqSRc5 | @On3USC pic.twitter.com/slo8IauODw
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) August 27, 2023

Is Zachariah Branch the new Reggie Bush?
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) August 27, 2023

Though it was a good start, it's worth noting that Branch has a lot of work to do to become the next Bush. A two-time All-American and winner of the 2005 Heisman Trophy Award (which was taken back from him because it was determined that he had accepted impermissible benefits while at USC), Bush left USC with 4,470 yards from scrimmage and 38 total touchdowns to his name. That doesn't include 1,522 kick return yards and a touchdown as well as 559 punt return yards and three touchdowns via punt return.

He was a legend. Branch may be a legend in the making, but let's see how it shakes out.

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