Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who had been tipped by many to be an early-round draft pick later this week, was arrested by police in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Athens-Clarke County police arrested him for obstructing public sidewalks/streets-prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, according to a report by Athens Banner-Herald.
The incident couldn’t really come at a worse time. Branch had been projected by many to be a late first-round or early second-round pick at the draft in Pittsburgh later this week. But his arrest could now see his position take a big slide.
Reports say he was arrested around 1am and released at 3:44am on a $39 bond.
Branch, 22, has held visits with the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders as well as Zoom meetings with another 20 teams in the NFL.
In a recent interview with NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, Branch told teams that whoever picked him would be getting a ‘great person’ outside of his football talents.
‘The way I was raised is how I carry myself,’ he said. ‘You’re getting a great person overall, I have a foundation with my brother – the Branch Out Foundation – for people who may not have the resources I had growing up. So you’re getting a great, caring person.
‘I’d also say get your popcorn ready because when I get the ball, I make something happen.’
Branch, who led the SEC in 2025 with 81 catches, transferred to Georgia last year after two seasons with USC Trojans.
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