Latest news with #ZachariahBranch
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atlanta Falcons mock draft update: Training camp edition
Last season, the Atlanta Falcons targeted the quarterback of their future, Michael Penix Jr., in the first round of the draft. They also used their 2026 first round to go up and get edge defender James Pearce Jr. This leaves the Falcons with no first-round pick in 2026. For the Falcons, it is all about building around Penix and franchise running back Bijan Robinson. This is what we kept in mind when we put together our updated three-round mock draft with just a week until the start of training camp. Let's break down the Falcons' two picks. Second round - WR Zachariah Branch - Georgia Branch is lightning quick in and out of his breaks and shows real track speed. The former USC receiver has landed in Georgia and has a chance to be one of the most productive receivers in college football. Third round - S Xavier Nwankpa - Iowa With Sebastian Castro off to the NFL, Nwankpa takes over as the top defensive back on the Iowa defense. He's got elite NFL size and athleticism and continues to develop as a coverage player. This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Atlanta Falcons mock draft update: Training camp edition
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Familiar faces, new places: 10 biggest non-QB transfers to know ahead of the 2025 college football season
With the 2025 college football season just weeks away, it's time to re-familiarize yourself with the myriad transfers that happened during the offseason. After we went through the 10 biggest QB transfers of the offseason, here are 10 other players who are in line to make big impacts in 2025. LSU WR Nic Anderson (from Oklahoma) Anderson heads to LSU after he missed nearly all of the 2024 season because of a quad injury. He appeared in just one game for the Sooners and didn't have a catch. In 2023, Anderson had 38 grabs for 798 yards and 10 TDs as he averaged over 20 yards a reception. Without Anderson on the field, Oklahoma's offense struggled mightily a season ago. Advertisement Anderson should be fully recovered from the quad injury and should also be ready for the season after he was in a single-car wreck on Friday. LSU coach Brian Kelly said Monday at SEC media days that Anderson would miss a week of offseason workouts after he was kept overnight in a hospital for observation. Zachariah Branch transferred from USC to Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/) (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos via Getty Images) Georgia WR Zachariah Branch (from USC) Branch can be one of the most dynamic players in college football with the ball in his hands. He averaged 20.8 yards a punt return in 2023 and over 18 yards a kick return as a freshman with the Trojans. As teams realized how good he was returning kicks, they worked to neutralize him in 2024. Branch had 13 punt returns for just 74 yards. Advertisement Georgia is looking for a game-breaker at wide receiver and Branch has that potential. However, he really never flashed it on offense at USC. He had 78 catches for 823 yards and just three TDs over 23 games with the Trojans. Ohio State RB CJ Donaldson (from West Virginia) The former West Virginia running back has rushed for 30 TDs over the past three seasons. In 2024, he had 163 carries for 734 yards and 11 scores. Donaldson could play an even bigger role for the Buckeyes in 2025 as Ohio State needs to replace both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins after they were the best running back duo in the country a season ago. Michigan RB Justice Haynes (from Alabama) Haynes was Alabama's third-leading rusher in 2024 with 79 carries for 448 yards and seven touchdowns. No matter who starts at QB for Michigan in 2025 — whether it's freshman Bryce Underwood or Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene — the Wolverines figure to have a run-heavy offense once again. And with both Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards off to the NFL, Haynes could have a big year. Justice Haynes was Alabama's third-leading rusher in 2024. (Photo byfor ONIT) (Mike Mulholland via Getty Images) Miami CB Xavier Lucas (from Wisconsin) Lucas was a four-star recruit in the class of 2024 and signed with the Badgers out of high school. After a season in Madison, he's back in south Florida and also the subject of one of the biggest transfer stories of the offseason. In June, Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against Miami for tampering over Lucas' transfer. Wisconsin claims that Miami interfered with a binding revenue-share contract that it had signed with Lucas. How the lawsuit plays out in the coming months could have a significant impact on player movement going forward. Advertisement Florida State WR Duce Robinson (from USC) Robinson had 23 catches for 396 yards and five TDs in 2024 after averaging nearly 22 yards a catch as a freshman in 2023. Florida State desperately needs more offensive firepower after a disastrous 2024 season. The school felt the loss of Keon Coleman on the outside and also had horrendous quarterback play. With Robinson, former Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos and others arriving in Tallahassee, the offense should be much better in 2025. It can't get any worse. Auburn WR Eric Singleton Jr. (from Georgia Tech) Singleton had 104 catches for 1,468 yards and nine touchdowns over two seasons with the Yellow Jackets. He also added 21 rushing attempts for 131 yards and a TD in 2024. If Auburn can get improved quarterback play from Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold, Singleton could form a great receiving duo with Cam Coleman. He had 37 grabs for 598 yards and eight scores as a freshman last season. Advertisement Oregon S Dillon Thieneman (from Purdue) Thieneman was one of the rare bright spots at Purdue over the past two seasons. He had 106 tackles and six interceptions as a freshman in 2023 and had 104 tackles as a sophomore in 2024. He didn't have an interception, though he had seven passes defensed and you can understand why opposing offenses wouldn't want to throw in his direction. He will immediately anchor Oregon's secondary as the Ducks go for back-to-back Big Ten titles. Missouri Edge Damon Wilson (from Georgia) Wilson had six tackles for loss and three sacks in 14 games for the Bulldogs in 2024. Georgia's front seven is exceptionally deep — he should see more playing time at Missouri. The Tigers have boasted a strong defensive front in recent seasons and need to replace the pass rush production of Johnny Walker Jr. He had 9.5 sacks in 2024 and was the only Mizzou player with more than three. Advertisement Oregon OT Isaiah World (from Nevada) World was the best offensive lineman in the transfer portal and will be counted on to keep Oregon's rushing offense humming in 2025. The Ducks added Tulane RB Makhi Hughes in the transfer portal to help replace Jordan James' production. James rushed for 1,267 yards and 15 TDs in 2024 while Hughes had 1,401 yards and 15 scores with the Green Wave. Other notable players: Oregon RB Makhi Hughes (from Tulane), Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy (from Louisiana-Monroe), Texas A&M WR Kevin Concepcion (from NC State), Auburn OT Xavier Chaplin (from Virginia Tech), LSU WR Barion Brown (from LSU), Missouri WR Kevin Coleman (from Mississippi State), Nebraska Edge Williams Nwaneri (from Missouri), Ohio State TE Max Klare (from Purdue), Nebraska WR Dane Key (from Kentucky), Ole Miss Edge Princewill Umanmielen (from Nebraska)
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Georgia Football Offense Preview 2025: The Bulldog Attack Has To Be Better
The offense wasn't good was wildly inconsistent, there were too many power outages, and it took way too much work at times to keep things the first time since 2020, the Bulldogs averaged under five yards per carry and only got past 150 yards once - against UMass - after the first two weeks. Even worse, the passing game explosion was missing, averaging just 7.7 yards per attempt, the lowest since should change, though, because … X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN 2025 Bulldogs PreviewBulldogs Offense BreakdownBulldogs Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season - The Bulldogs went after a few playmakers. Zachariah Branch (USC) is one of the most electrifying all-around weapons in college football, and he'll get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways. Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) is a three-year veteran with 15 touchdown grabs as a big play target on the Bell was third on the team with 43 catches with four scores, Colbie Young will take over a starting role on the outside after being a rotational option, and Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie form a nice tight end pair that combined for 45 catches and seven touchdowns. And now … - Is Gunner Stockton ready to make the gig his? Carson Beck is off to Miami, and after being thrown into the fire of the second half of the SEC Championship and against Notre Dame in the CFP, Stockton held up. He's not the NFL passer Beck is and should be, but he's got the power arm to start stretching the field after keeping it close and accurate in his game and a half of no experience whatsoever behind Stockton, but Ryan Puglisi is a 6-3, 210-pound passer who'll be worked into the fold. - There's more than enough starting experience for the line to be a plus. It's a versatile bunch with plenty of options to work with in fall camp to come up with the right five. 6-7, 315-pound Monroe Freeling is a next-level tackle at one spot, and Earnest Greene III is a 6-4, 320-pound future pro blocker on the other Bobo should lock down the center gig for the next few years, and Micah Morris and Daniel Calhoun are massive mashers at the guards. Waltclaire Flynn (UCF) was a nice signing for the interior. He'll almost certainly be a backup center, but can work at a few different spots. - The running backs need to do more. Getting 240-pound blaster Josh McCray (Illinois) is in his fifth year, coming off a solid ten-touchdown season, averaging over five yards per carry for the Illini. Nate Frazier is a talented 210-pound back who led the Bulldogs with 671 yards and eight scores, averaging over five yards per pop. 2025 Bulldogs Preview Bulldogs Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The 10 highest rated Georgia Bulldogs in College Football 26
The Georgia Bulldogs are the sixth-highest rated team in College Football 26. Georgia has a team rating of 88 overall in the popular EA Sports video game, which will be released on July 10. Some players will have access the game on July 7. Georgia fans will have a lot of fun playing with the Bulldogs. UGA has one of the fastest players in the game in wide receiver Zachariah Branch, a USC Trojans transfer, who has a speed rating of 97. Branch is among Georgia's top rated players. Advertisement Last year, EA Sports' beloved video game returned for the first time in over a decade for College Football 25. Fans are excited to see what improvements are made to the game as everyone waits for the start of the 2025 college football season. The 10 highest rated Georgia Bulldogs in College Football 26 Nov 16, 2024; Athens, Georgia, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson (6) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen (3) in the third quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Defensive lineman Christen Miller: 92 overall Linebacker C.J. Allen: 91 overall Safety KJ Bolden: 91 overall Tight end Oscar Delp: 90 overall Cornerback Daylen Everette: 90 overall Offensive tackle Earnest Greene: 89 overall Wide receiver Zachariah Branch: 88 overall Running back Nate Frazier: 88 overall Punter Brett Thorson: 87 overall Wide receiver Dillon Bell: 86 overall All College Football 26 ratings are according to Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia Bulldogs coverage! This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Ratings for top Georgia Bulldogs in College Football 26
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The 10 highest rated Georgia Bulldogs in College Football 26
The Georgia Bulldogs are the sixth-highest rated team in College Football 26. Georgia has a team rating of 88 overall in the popular EA Sports video game, which will be released on July 10. Some players will have access the game on July 7. Georgia fans will have a lot of fun playing with the Bulldogs. UGA has one of the fastest players in the game in wide receiver Zachariah Branch, a USC Trojans transfer, who has a speed rating of 97. Branch is among Georgia's top rated players. Last year, EA Sports' beloved video game returned for the first time in over a decade for College Football 25. Fans are excited to see what improvements are made to the game as everyone waits for the start of the 2025 college football season. The 10 highest rated Georgia Bulldogs in College Football 26 All College Football 26 ratings are according to Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia Bulldogs coverage!
