Oklahoma football: Top-rated 2022 safety lists Sooners in top five
By Chip Rouse
The Oklahoma football recruiting watch continues with another top-rated defensive player listing the Sooners in his top five.
Zion Branch, a four-star-rated safety in the 2022 class who is from the same high school program as 2022 Oklahoma commit Jake Taylor, revealed his five finalists on Saturday.
Branch and Taylor are teammates at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, the same school that produced former OU running back and NFL star who is now the running backs coach for the Sooners. Taylor is a highly rated offensive lineman who is listed as the No. 26 offensive tackle in the 2022 class.
The two high school teammates were among the two dozen-plus recruiting prospects who were in attendance at OU’s ChampU BBQ event in June.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Zion Branch tells @On3Recruits that he’s down to these 5️⃣ Schools!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 10, 2021
The 6’3 190 Safety from Los Vegas, NV is Ranked as a Top 50 Player in the Class of 2022 (#3 S, #1 Player in Nevada)
Where Should He Go?👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/6kVH6F91OL
In addition to Oklahoma, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 190-pound Branch also is considering four other heavy hitters in Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama and USC.
Branch is the No. 4 safety in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports, and the No. 49 player overall in the class.
On factor that could easily tilt Branch’s final decision, however, is that Ohio State has offered his younger brother, Zachariah, a wide receiver, a scholarship. OSU is on Zion’s top-five and he said in the spring that he would like to be able to play in college with his brother. Neither Branch brother has committed yet, though.
With or without Zion Branch coming to Oklahoma, the fact that he has the Sooners in his top-five choices is a good indication that defensive coordinator is beginning to attract some top defensive talent to the high plains of Oklahoma.