USC Trojans’ freshman and wide receiver Zachariah Branch dazzled so much in his debut against the San José State Spartans on Saturday that football fans are already comparing him to one of the school’s most iconic players.
Branch caught four passes from reigning Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Caleb Williams for 58 yards and one touchdown. He had one carry for 12 yards as well, but it was Branch’s 96-yard kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter that broke the internet:
Branch’s jaw-dropping debut led to a plethora of comparisons to USC legend Reggie Bush from football fans on X (formerly known as Twitter).
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Bush had one of the greatest NCAA football careers ever, leading USC to a national championships in 2004. They almost pulled off the repeat, losing an all-time classic to the Vince Young-led Texas Longhorns 41-38 in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Though he wound up relinquishing the award after an investigation determined that he received improper benefits (a violation of NCAA rules), Bush was initially named the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner. That same year, he won the Doak Walker and Walter Camp awards
Of course, Branch has a long way to go in matching (or topping) the legendary statistics that Bush put up. But strong first impressions are never a bad thing, and he certainly had one for the ages on Saturday.
