Brian Branch
refer to caption
Branch at the 2023 NFL Combine
No. 32 – Detroit Lions
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (2001-10-22) October 22, 2001
Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Georgia)
College:Alabama (2020–2022)
NFL Draft:2023 / Round: 2 / Pick: 45
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:74
Sacks:1.0
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:13
Interceptions:3
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Brian Amani Branch (born October 22, 2001) is an American football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama.

Early life and high school career

Branch grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia, and attended Sandy Creek High School.[1] He was named the Georgia 5A Ironman of the Year as a senior.[2] Branch was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Alabama over offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.[3]

College career

Branch played in 12 games during his freshman season at Alabama and made 27 tackles with seven passes defended and two interceptions.[4] As a sophomore he made 55 tackles with five tackles for loss, one sack, and nine passes defended.[5] Branch led the Crimson Tide with eight tackles and broke up two passes in Alabama's 27–6 win over Cincinnati in the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic.[6] Branch entered his junior season as one of the top safety prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11+5⁄8 in
(1.82 m)		 190 lb
(86 kg)		 30+3⁄4 in
(0.78 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.58 s1.56 s2.64 s4.45 s37.5 in
(0.95 m)		10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		14 reps
Sources:[8][9]

Branch was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft.[10] In Branch's first career NFL game, he intercepted a pass from Patrick Mahomes and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown in a 21–20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.[11][12] Branch became the first Lions player to record an interception return for a touchdown in his NFL debut since Lem Barney did so in 1967.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Sandy Creek alum Brian Branch picked in NFL Draft". The Citizen. May 10, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ Ezring, Cory McCann (June 30, 2022). "Prospect Breakdown: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama". SI.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  3. ↑ Rodak, Mike (December 18, 2019). "Alabama signs four-star Georgia safety Brian Branch". AL.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ Potter, Charlie (September 7, 2021). "Brian Branch seeing benefits of practicing at every DB position". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ Blackwood, Stacey (July 2, 2022). "Alabama's Brian Branch might be the most underrated DB in college football". Roll Tide Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. ↑ Casagrande, Michael (January 5, 2022). "Explaining the Brian Branch/Malachi Moore dynamic in Alabama secondary". AL.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  7. ↑ Brugler, Dane (August 18, 2022). "2023 NFL Draft safety class: Antonio Johnson, Brian Branch win with versatility". The Athletic. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Brian Branch Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Brian Branch College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ Twentyman, Tim (April 28, 2023). "Lions trade up, draft defensive back Brian Branch". DetroitLions.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ Williams, Charean (September 7, 2023). "Lions Knot the Game 14–14". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ Maakaron, John (September 7, 2023). "Brand New Lions Defeat Chiefs, 21–20". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ Ramsey, Jared (September 7, 2023). "Detroit Lions rookie Brian Branch introduces himself to the NFL in style with pick-six". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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