Zion Branch is one of the best safeties in the 2022 class and boasted more than 40 offers but when crunch time came in the final days before National Signing Day, USC, Oklahoma and Ohio State made his final cut.

The Trojans won out and this would almost definitely not have happened unless there was a blockbuster hire made like Lincoln Riley coming over from Oklahoma.

As USC spun its wheels this season first with coach Clay Helton and then interim coach Donte Williams, who did his best but still had significant challenges along the way, a lot of top prospects in the West looked elsewhere including Branch.

Ohio State was definitely a top contender for the Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman standout who’s ranked as the fourth-best safety in the class. He loved the coaching staff there and the development in Columbus. Oklahoma always hung around in his recruitment but it never felt like the Sooners led.

USC was never out of it because it was Branch’s dream school growing up but it certainly trailed others through the season. For many recruits, the hiring of Riley was a game-changer and after another visit the weekend before signing day, USC emerged as the team to beat.

On Wednesday, Branch picked the Trojans over his other two finalists.

WHAT USC IS GETTING

Branch is rated as one of the top safeties nationally because he plays fast but under control, he’s smooth in the back end, doesn’t make mistakes, can come up and plant receivers and does an excellent job adjusting his body to the ball to pick off passes. In one-on-one situations in camps, Branch has covered like a cornerback, isn’t afraid to play in space and does everything really well across the board.

IN HIS WORDS

“I really believe in that staff. Coach (Lincoln) Riley and I had some really great conversations. Coach Grinch and some of the new guys there I can really see their vision and what they want to do at USC. Even with the guys they’re trying to bring in and the guys they’re looking for in that program, it’s a scary sight but they’re really building something over there and I really believe in coach Riley and what his dreams are.”

WHY IT’S BIG FOR THE TROJANS

Coach Lincoln Riley and his staff need to keep more high-end talent in the West home and that’s exactly what they did with Branch. Ohio State was probably the team to beat in the last few months but when Riley was hired there was definitely a spark in recruiting and now Branch and many others could load up this USC recruiting class. He’s a talented defensive back who’s ready to make an impact early and guys like Branch, the Trojans can’t lose them to SEC and other top programs around the country anymore.