Georgia WR Zachariah Branch announces his NFL draft decision

Georgia coach Kirby Smart consistently raved about Branch in his time at Georgia.

“The things that impressed me the most is his love for the game and his love for football,” Smart said before the Sugar Bowl. “I wouldn’t say that I didn’t think he had it, but some guys that are so highly touted, they don’t really buy into the culture and the work ethic that we have. He’s never flinched.

“He’s like, ‘Coach, I want to be part of that.’ I forget when they first got there, maybe mid-January … But he wouldn’t leave the building. He was there every day. He’s like, ‘I don’t want to go to my apartment. I don’t want to go home. I want to be up here.’”

Branch was the only Georgia pass catcher to finish with more than 400 receiving yards. He’s elite in the screen game and an asset as a returner as well.

Mel Kiper Jr. currently has Branch rated as the No. 22 overall player in the draft class. He’s not the biggest wide receiver, which will put a cap on his draft range. He is viewed as a late first-round or early second-round pick.

Georgia receivers Colbie Young, Noah Thomas and Dillon Bell exhausted their collegiate eligibility. Georgia did sign two wide receivers in the 2026 recruiting cycle in Craig Dandridge and Ryan Mosley. Expect Georgia to be aggressive in the transfer portal to try to replace Branch.

The team will lose five of its top six pass catchers from this past season.

Branch becomes the second Georgia player to declare for the NFL draft, joining Christen Miller.

The deadline to declare for the 2026 draft is Jan. 14. Georgia went 12-2 this season, losing in the College Football Playoff to Ole Miss.