While watching Week 18 NFL games on Sunday, gamblers might have missed out on some transfer portal news in college football.
During Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, it was obvious how down the Bulldogs were at the wide receiver position in 2024. In an attempt to remedy that situation, Kirby Smart scored a commitment from former Southern Cal WR Zachariah Branch. The Bulldogs also inked his brother, safety Zion Branch.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Zachariah Branch is a four-star transfer who is the second-ranked WR in this year’s portal and the fourth-ranked transfer overall. Coming out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School in the 2023 class, he was a five-star prospect ranked as the #7 player in the nation and the #1 WR.
Zachariah Branch played in 11 of 13 games for the Trojans as a true freshman, hauling in 31 receptions for 320 yards and two touchdowns. The 5-foot-10 speedster had 70 rushing yards, one TD and a 7.8 yards-per-carry average on nine carries. He led the Pac-12 in punt return yards (320) and average yards per punt return (20.8).
Zachariah Branch had 442 yards on kick returns and one TD in 2023. He also had a punt return for a TD.
As a sophomore, Zachariah Branch produced 47 catches for 503 yards and one TD in 12 games. He had 17 rushing yards on a pair of attempts.
Zachariah Branch wasn’t used on special teams as much in 2024. He had 74 yards on 13 punt returns, in addition to 105 yards on five kickoff returns.
Zion Branch was a four-star safety coming out of Bishop Gorman. The 247Sports Composite had the 6-foot-2 DB ranked as the #58 overall prospect nationally, the #6 safety and the second-best player out of Nevada behind only his brother.
In nine games as a freshman, Zion Branch contributed 22 tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. In 2024 as a sophomore, he recorded 19 tackles, three passes broken up and two TFL’s in 12 contests.
Zion Branch is a three-star transfer, per the 247Sports Composite, who is ranked as the #16 safety and the #268 player overall.
The Branch brothers are UGA’s first two signees from out of the portal. The Bulldogs have the #3 overall class nationally with five five-star prospects and 19 four-star acquisitions.
Coming off a catastrophic 2-10 campaign, FSU is looking to overhaul its roster going into the 2025 season. Mike Norvell’s overall recruiting class is only ranked #18 nationally, but the transfer-specific group is ranked fifth.
The transfer imports reached 16 Sunday when ex-Tennessee WR Squirrel White committed to the Seminoles. White spent three seasons with the Volunteers, playing in 38 of 39 games when they compiled a 30-9 record.
White is a four-star transfer who was a three-star prospect coming out of Clay-Chalkville HS in Pinson, AL. in the 2022 prep class. The 5-foot-10 former track star played in 12 games for Tennessee as a true freshman, producing 30 catches for 481 yards and two TDs.
In 2023, White had 67 receptions for 803 yards and two TDs. He snagged 34 balls for 381 yards and one TD this past season.
In 38 career games for the Vols, White had 131 catches for 1,665 yards and six TDs. He had 155 yards on 10 career punt returns for a 15.5 yards per return average.
White is the second WR signed by Norvell in this transfer group, joining former Southern Cal wideout Duce Robinson, who is a four-star transfer that was a five-star prospect in the 2023 prep class. Robinson played in 23 games across two seasons with the Trojans, recording 39 receptions for 747 yards and seven TDs.
Let’s circle back to UGA now, as ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported yesterday that its third-string QB Jaden Rashada has filed the paperwork to jump back into the portal. It’s been quite the college football odyssey for Rashada, who initially committed to Miami as a four-star prospect coming out of high school.
Rashada eventually flipped from UM to Florida. However, after an NIL deal with the Gators collapsed, he never showed up in Gainesville. Instead, he signed with Arizona St.
As a true freshman for the Sun Devils in 2023, Rashada started twice and played in three games while taking a redshirt year. He completed 44-of-82 passes (53.7%) for 485 yards and four TDs with three interceptions.
Rashada didn’t play at UGA and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
In May of 2024, Rashada filed a lawsuit against Florida HC Billy Napier, booster Hugh Hathcock and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker.