USC football: 3 freshmen who’ll have the biggest impacts in 2023

Dec 10, 2022; Tempe, AZ, USA; Pinnacle Pioneers wide receiver Duce Robinson (2) reaches for the end zone as he is brought the Highland Hawks during the 6A state championship game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gould/The RepublicFootball 6a State Championship Game Pinnacle At HighlandSyndication Arizona Republic /

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Apr 15, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) catches a pass against defensive back Jaylin Smith (19) during the Spring Game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /

WR/KR Zachariah Branch

Zachariah Branch will have one advantage in terms of getting on the field early and that’s the fact that he enrolled early.

The fourth overall recruit in the 2023 class and No. 1 wide receiver out of Bishop Gorman High School is expected to play right away and should be after what we saw this spring.

USC football is loaded at wide receiver, even with Jordan Addison gone to the NFL draft. Brenden Rice is back, along with Mario Williams. USC also added Dorian Singer from Arizona — one of the top additions in the transfer portal.

With all that said, I still think Branch, 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, will play his way into the field. He’s at least going to get the chance to return kicks. My guess is that he’ll make some eye-opening plays and much like Robinson, he’ll have a clear role in the offense by season’s end.

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