Former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was selected 79th overall in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the fourth Bulldog and 12th overall wideout off the board.
Branch spent just one season in Athens, playing for USC as a freshman and sophomore. He transitioned exceptionally well to the SEC, recording a program-record 81 receptions and a receiving yard total of 811 that more than doubled the team’s runner-up.
The Las Vegas native flashed his athleticism at the NFL combine, running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, which ranked sixth among receivers. He also had the fourth-best 10-second split at the position and displayed his strength by benching 20 reps.
Branch’s career game came on Nov. 1, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida, as his 10 receptions for 112 yards were crucial in Georgia’s 24-20 win over Florida. He appeared in all 14 of Georgia’s games in 2025, never failing to catch at least three passes in any contest. Branch was particularly clutch late in the season, scoring a touchdown in three consecutive games: the season finale against Georgia Tech, the SEC championship game against Alabama, and the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Ole Miss.
Just five days before hearing his name called at the draft, Branch was controversially arrested in Athens-Clarke County on misdemeanor charges for obstructing a sidewalk. County reports said that Branch failed to clear a crowded sidewalk when requested by officers, leading to his arrest and release after about two hours when his $39 bail was paid.
With Georgia’s receiving room being one of its biggest question marks going into the 2026 season due to the departure of Branch, Colbie Young and Dillon Bell, Branch will have the opportunity to contribute to a Falcon offense in need of another weapon. Expected to be featured primarily as a short-route option, Branch’s athleticism and shiftiness suggest he can be a reliable playmaker at the next level.