Zachariah Branch. Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

USC loses another blue-chip recruit to the transfer portal

By Ben Rodgers | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 5:37 PM ET

Former five-star wide receiver and all-purpose wonder Zachariah Branch announced his plans to leave USC and enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, joined by his older brother and former four-star safety Zion Branch.

The Branch brothers’ announcement adds to a growing list of blue-chip recruits lost by USC since Lincoln Riley started in 2022. According to 247Sports, USC has signed 12 top-100 recruits during Riley’s tenure; of the 12 signees, nine have departed to new schools or are currently in the transfer portal.

In his two years at USC, Zachariah Branch recorded 78 receptions, 823 receiving yards and six total touchdowns, two of those coming on special teams. The older Zion recorded 19 total tackles and saw action in each of USC’s 12 games this year. The brothers are a package deal and plan to attend the same school, Pete Thamel reports.

Zachariah Branch is in the portal.

Explosive return man and dangerous wide receiver available.

pic.twitter.com/TCH6B1aTsU
— Oliver Hodgkinson (@ojhodgkinson) December 17, 2024

This announcement comes on the heels of an underwhelming Big Ten debut for the Trojans, finishing 6-6 with a 4-5 record in conference. It’s Riley’s worst career record in a season as a head coach, as the 41-year-old lost six total games in his first three years at Oklahoma from 2017-19.

With the departure of Caleb Williams to the NFL, Riley struggled to find consistent quarterback play this season, and the Trojans will surely be buyers in the transfer market for a new signal-caller. Starting quarterback Miller Moss announced his commitment to Louisville and potential returning sophomore Jaden Maiava showed struggles in his time under center this year.

2025 becomes a make-or-break year for Riley and USC; his .641 winning percentage falls short of Clay Helton, USC’s head coach from 2013-21 who posted a .657 winning percentage during what was considered an underwhelming tenure for USC’s standards.

USC has the 14th ranked recruiting class in the nation for 2025 according to 247Sports, but the worry for USC fans should be whether or not Riley can convince those players to stick around if the Trojans have another forgettable season. If the struggles continue both on the field and in player retention, Riley will be sent packing despite having one of the highest contract buyouts of any head coach in the country.

While the Branch’s and other Trojan departures shop for new schools, USC will take on Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 27.

Ben Rodgers

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