Pitts approached Branch while he was sitting at the table and told him<\/a>, \u201cOpen those bad boys up.\u201d<\/p>\n When he did, Branch immediately leaned back into his chair, put his hands over his head, and took a long, deep breath while the rest of the Falcons team<\/a> erupted into laughter.<\/p>\n Initially, Branch thought he was in the clear after he was presented with the first check, but then Pitts handed him two more, which caused him to once again lean back into his chair in disbelief.<\/p>\n Branch spent the first two years of his college football career at USC, when he emerged on the scene as a full-time starter during his freshman year in 2023.<\/p>\n Known for having electric speed, Branch was utilized as a deep threat wide receiver and as a punt returner for the Trojans. <\/p>\n Through his two seasons with the team, he had 78 receptions for 823 yards and three receiving touchdowns.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Following 2024, Branch made the decision to transfer from USC and enrolled at Georgia.<\/p>\n He had a career year with the Bulldogs, having a career-high 81 receptions for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns.<\/p>\n Before the NFL Draft, Branch was arrested for obstructing public sidewalks\/streets<\/a> and for obstruction of a law enforcement officer.<\/p>\n The charges against Branch were later dropped, and it was revealed in July that there was some bizarre body cam footage<\/a> of Branch being arrested by the law enforcement officer.<\/p>\n Branch went on to get drafted in the third round by the Falcons<\/a> and signed a four-year, $7 million contract.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-21-at-4.53.34-PM.png\")
Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch left in disbelief over outrageously high team dinner. X\/@MLFootball<\/p>\n![\"Atlanta](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2289998152.jpg\")
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch during an NFL game. Getty Images<\/p>\n
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