BREAKING: Dawgs Add Offensive Playmaker Zachariah Branch, Defender Zion Branch in Portal

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ATHENS - UGA Football was lacking explosion it had gotten used to in national championship seasons. On Sunday the Dawgs added a transfer that could help with that problem immediately in 2025. 

2023 All-American WR Zachariah Branch and defensive back Zion Branch, brothers who played this past season at USC, committed to the Bulldogs Sunday. Zion branch will help bolster the Bulldogs’ secondary. Zachariah will be expected to add spark to a UGA offense that sputtered too often in 2024. He will also add playmaking ability to the return game.

Zachariah ended 2024 with 503 yards receiving. In 2023 Zachariah was named an All-American selection for USA Today after catching 31 balls for 320 receiving while averaging 21 yards per punt return - and a 75-yard touchdown. He also had a 96-yard touchdown on a kickoff return in 2023. 

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The duo transferring to UGA is one of the biggest wins of the NCAA transfer portal season in the nation. Kirby Smart’s programs is only days away from a season-ended loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl - a game that highlighted the struggle of the Bulldogs’ receivers in 2024. 

With the addition of Zachariah Branch, UGA has one of the marquee playmakers in the transfer portal coming to Athens in 2025. Insiders expect Zachariah Branch and incoming freshman Talyn Taylor, a consensus five-star prospect, to add consistency and punch to a passing game that was lacking often in 2024 - even with Carson Beck at quarterback. 

Branch was USA Today All-American at USC - the first time that had happened in that program’s history. Defensively, Zion Branch could add depth or even start in a secondary that will have to replace multiple players on the back end.