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Brian Branch

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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 (age 23)
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 Week 11, 2024
Total tackles:131
Sacks:1.0
Forced fumbles:2
Pass deflections:26
Interceptions:7
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

Early life

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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

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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

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Branch was selected as the 45th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his debut game against the Chiefs, Branch caught a deflected pass for a touchdown, helping the Lions win 21-20. He had two more interceptions and a forced fumble in his rookie year. This year as of Week 13, Branch has had 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 67 combined tackles.

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench 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 s 1.56 s 2.64 s 4.45 s 37.5 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] As a rookie, he appeared in 15 games and started nine. He finished with one sack, 74 total tackles (50 solo), three interceptions, 13 passes defended, and one forced fumble.[14]

In Week 6 of the 2024 season, Branch recorded two interceptions, a forced fumble, and six tackles in a 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[15]

References

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  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.
  14. ^ "Brian Branch 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 16, 2024). "Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
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