Newly drafted Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is coming in with a lot of hype, as his athleticism and potential in the NFL has a lot of people talking. He is expected to make an impact in that Falcons offense and many are already expecting a lot of big things from him. This includes former Cincinnati Bengals star T.J. Houshmandzadeh who was very vocal about his optimism for the rookie.
During Emmanuel Acho’s Speakeasy podcast, the former Bengals star was all praises for the incoming rookie, comparing him to a much younger Tyreek Hill in the process and looking forward to what he could do for the Atlanta Falcons.
“So when Zach Branch was in high school, people were basically calling him the ‘high school Tyreek Hill,” he said. “People forget that Zachariah Branch, I can be wrong, I believe he ran a 10.3 or 10.2 100m dash in high school. Anybody who knows track, that is rolling for a football player.”
Houshmandzadeh added that he believes that he gained a lot of weight at USC and when he transferred to Georgia, he lost 10-12 pounds and became faster, noting that Zachariah Branch was “electrifying.”
Drafted No. 79 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, Zachariah Branch had 81 total receptions during his junior season at Georgia, tallying 811 receiving yards and scoring six receiving touchdowns for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Zachariah Branch Was Arrested Days Before Getting Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Before getting drafted into the NFL, Zachariah Branch was actually arrested by police over in Athens, Georgia, where the University of Georgia is. Branch was arrested after he refused to comply with multiple verbal commands from police last Sunday. He reportedly refused to move from a sidewalk outside a bar in the city.
The newly released police report showed that he was soon arrested for misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer and also received a citation for obstructing public sidewalks. This was not a major offense, and it ultimately did not impact his chances of getting drafted. He is staying in Georgia though, just moving from Athens to Atlanta.
Read More:
NFL Draft 2026: Three Trades That Can Shake Up Big Board Ft. George Pickens To Baltimore Ravens
Will A.J. Brown Get Traded? Trade Rumors Face Scrutiny After Dianna Russini Controversy
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
