Zachariah Branch looks like a potential star.

The freshman wide receiver got himself going in USC’s opener against San Jose State Saturday on the punt team with several strong returns. Then, in the third quarter, he found some space on offense and exploded for his first career touchdown. Branch took a little flip out to the flats and raced 25 yards, leaving a trio of Spartan defenders in the dust.

Branch was a 5-star receiver out of the 2023 class. A top-10 prospect nationally, Branch was expected to see the field right away for the Trojans despite walking into one of the deepest receiver rooms in all of college football.

Throughout the Trojans’ opener, Lincoln Riley and the coaching staff clearly made a point of getting the freshman class — not just Branch — onto the field.

Arizona transfer Dorian Singer scored USC’s first touchdown of the season. Mario Williams brought in a crucial fourth-down reception for a conversion. Tahj Washington was on the receiving end of a Caleb Williams touchdown pass. The top options are the top options for a reason.

But it looks like it’ll be hard to keep Branch off the field.