Desmond Branch, a defensive end from Rio Rancho, N.M., has transferred to Georgia Tech from Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. Branch, the brother of New England Patriots defensive lineman Alan Branch, will enroll in January and have immediate eligibility.
Branch was a redshirt his freshman season in 2014 at New Mexico before transferring to Trinity Valley with the idea of transferring to another FBS school. Branch’s junior-college coach, Brad Smiley, said that he signed with New Mexico out of high school feeling pressure to follow his father and one of his brother’s footsteps to the school. He transferred at the end of the 2014 season.
“He knew there was bigger and better (beyond New Mexico),” Smiley said.
This past season, he had 32 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a team-high seven sacks. At strongside end, he could challenge Roderick Rook-Chungong for playing time. Branch is 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds but has the potential to add weight and play tackle, according to Smiley.
“Whatever he is, he’s athletic and he plays with a high motor,” Smiley said.
He follows a similar path to Tech as defensive end Kenderius Whitehead, who redshirted the 2012 season at N.C. State, transferred to Georgia Military College and then transferred to Tech prior to the start of the 2014 season.
Branch is believed to be the first player to come to Tech from New Mexico in the team’s modern era. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
About the Author
