Yesterday, Georgia concluded its annual G-Day spring game, and its 2025 WR veteran, Zachariah Branch, saw it all unfold from the sidelines. He remained in attendance throughout the scrimmage, signed autographs, and took pictures with UGA fans. But just hours later, early Sunday morning, he shockingly had a run-in with the law. With Branch’s arrest, UGA’s off-field track record under Smart is getting even more murkier.
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According to reports, Branch was booked on Sunday on one charge of obstructing public sidewalks/streets and one charge of prowling. Whereas his other charge is obstruction of a law enforcement official. Both charges, though, are misdemeanors, and authorities released Branch on a $39 bond at around 3:44 a.m. ET. Georgia hasn’t released a statement yet, but Kirby Smart still had a ‘caution’ message for his players after the team’s spring scrimmage.
“Be safe tonight. And be smart,” Smart told DJ Shockley on UGA’s spring game broadcast. “Be your brother’s keeper and take care of each other.”
Georgia has a troubled history with arrests under Kirby Smart, especially related to driving incidents. In January 2023, shortly after UGA’s national championship parade, the fatal crash involving OL Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy was a shocker. Both were fatally killed in the crash as they were allegedly ‘street racing’ with former UGA player, Jalen Carter, in Athens around 2:30 a.m. Carter was arrested, and Kirby Smart issued a stern warning to all his players. But the incidents didn’t cease.
Former Georgia WR Zachariah Branch was arrested in Athens on Sunday. Branch is expected to be drafted in this week's NFL draft, which begins on Thursday: dawgnation.com/football/zacha…
“I feel like our players are starting to be able to acknowledge and they understand when you make mistakes, decisions that are costly can cost you your life,” Smart said after the crash. “That’s not to be taken lightly. I think our guys understand that, and we continue to educate them, and we’ll continue to do all we can as a university to make sure they behave and do that in a proper way.”
Less than a month after the fatal crash that killed Chandler LeCroy and Devin Willock, police arrested linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson for racing and reckless driving. Then, in May 2023, police arrested wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint after clocking him at 90 mph while he weaved through traffic. This time, Smart took stern action and suspended Rosemy-Jacksaint, mentioning it as a “rare” example of discipline. But even then, UGA players didn’t stop getting in legal trouble.
More recently, Georgia’s wide receiver Nitro Tuggle and OL Marques Easley were arrested for reckless driving charges in March last year. With the duo’s arrest, UGA has had a whopping 32 cases of driving-related arrests since January 2023, as Smart indefinitely suspended the two players. And the list is still growing with the latest driving arrest of linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon for speeding, following too close, and reckless driving this year.
Although the UGA head coach has brought in several measures, including stringent punishments going as far as dismissing the players, the actions seem to be having no to minimal effect. Now, with Branch’s arrest, the spotlight will again be on Smart and how he handles discipline, especially since for the WR, his NFL draft stock is at stake.
Will Branch’s arrest affect his NFL draft stock?
Branch was one of Georgia’s most prolific receivers in the 2025 season. He transferred from USC in 2025 after notching 823 receiving yards in two years and accumulating 811 receiving yards last year. On top of it, the former UGA #1 was also reliable in special teams, returning 180 yards last year. Back at USC, he even featured in defense sporadically, notching 3 solo tackles. Because of his versatile roles, Branch was especially considered a second-round pick.
“He met a lot to learn our system and learn our terminology,” Smart said about Branch during UGA’s Pro Day. “He’s a football junkie. There’s not a day I’ll leave the office that he’s not down there catching balls, running routes, doing extra. He loves football, and that’s one of the number one qualities for being a good pro, is do you love it?”
Zachariah Branch did everything right for this week’s NFL draft process. He ran the 40-yard dash impressively in just 4.35 seconds, did the 10-yard split in 1.5 seconds, and had a 38-inch vertical jump at the Scouting Combine. Naturally, Branch’s stock was ascending rapidly, and major analysts even touted him to be an early 2nd round pick owing to his Combine showing. But now, after his arrest, uncertainty looms large.
In most cases, NFL GMs hesitate to bet on prospects with controversial histories or arrests. But in some cases, considering the talent, players do go higher, despite muddied history. That’s exactly what happened to Jalen Carter in 2023, despite his misdemeanor charges. Even with the timing of Carter’s arrest close to the NFL draft, the Eagles took him 9th overall, owing to his high ceiling and talent. But cases like Jalen Carter’s are only anomalies; the norm is wholly contrasting, and that should be a concern for Branch.
