Zachariah

Among them were two five-star receivers in Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson, both of which were seen as two of the coach’s biggest recruiting victories at USC, as well as Branch’s older brother, Zion, himself a top-60 recruit in the 2022 class.

The exit of Zachariah and Zion Branch is an especially brutal blow to the Trojans, who have watched top prospects leave in droves the last two years.

Zachariah Branch, USC’s electric sophomore receiver and returner, and his older brother Zion, who plays safety for the Trojans, are planning to enter the transfer portal, a person familiar with the decision but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times, becoming the latest lauded prospects to join the exodus from Troy.

When the two brothers signed to play at USC — Zion in 2022 and Zachariah in 2023 — their separate arrivals were seen as landmark recruiting victories for Trojans coach Lincoln Riley.

Zachariah Branch was a top-10 recruit and the nation’s No. 1 receiver prospect.