Former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is a projected second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, was arrested early Sunday on two misdemeanor obstruction charges by Athens Clarke County police, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
Branch reportedly was charged with obstructing public sidewalks/streets — prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
He was booked into the Clarke County Jail at 1:26 a.m. Sunday and released on $39 bond at 3:44 a.m, per jail records.
Zachariah Branch of the Georgia Bulldogs participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty ImagesThe arresting officer explained the situation involving Branch in a police report obtained by NFL Network.
“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move,” the report states. “I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk.
“Zachariah Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business. Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.”
Zachariah Branch of the Georgia Bulldogs participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty ImagesNo further details on the incident were disclosed.
The Post reached out to Branch for comment and did not immediately hear back.
Before his arrest, Branch and some of his teammates from the 2025 Georgia team signed autographs at the team’s G-Day scrimmage on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
Branch ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine that spotlighted him for potential teams.
The first round of the NFL draft kicks off Thursday, with the second and third rounds set for Friday and rounds four through seven taking place Saturday.
Branch was an All-American at USC and spent two seasons with the Trojans before transferring to Georgia for the 2025 season.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) leaps while being shoved out of bounds by Florida Gators defensive back Bryce Thornton (18) during the second quarter of an NCAA game on November 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia held off Florida 24-20. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesIn his one season with Georgia, Branch led the team in receptions and receiving yards, setting the single season reception record with 81 catches for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Branch’s 81 catches led the SEC last year.
