Class of 2019 JUCO RB JJ Branham (OH / TX) COMMITTED TO SYRACUSE (7/10/23)

[PhatOrange]

I believe we offered him when in HS so we must have always sort of had an eye on him.

 

[Ozone!]

 

[CA Monk]

View attachment 229233

Grown Ass Man
LGO!

 

[CuseLegacy]

I believe we offered him when in HS so we must have always sort of had an eye on him.

Yes. There are some old posts at the beginning to this thread as there was an existing thread from 2017. He deleted a lot of old tweets, actually I think he wiped most of his old Twitter, but I believe that SU did offer him when he was in HS. Kudos to Coach Lynch.

 

[SWC75]

He's a bounce back. Started his career at Eastern Michigan in 2020, Hudl tape from Blinn JC. Not sure how old he is - RS Junior + a COVID year, I'm guessing.

Edit: He was a Soph at Blinn last year, plus the COVID grace year. So it looks like he's a Jr. eligibility wise.

Per this he scored 73TDs in high school, 32 in his senior year:

John Branham Jr. - Football - Eastern Michigan University Athletics

John Branham Jr. (30) Running back - EMU: 2019: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Northland High School and played under Head

emueagles.com

But he doesn't show up as participating in any games at EMU in 2019 or 2020:

2020 Football Cumulative Statistics - Eastern Michigan University Athletics

The official 2020 Football cumulative statistics for the Eastern Michigan University Eagles

emueagles.com

 

[Goin' Deep]

2019 season...didn't he red shirt and then transfer from/left (EMU) the school after the season?
He didn't attend a school in 2020 and 2021.
Hooked up with Blinn CC in 2022...played in a majority(not all of their games) fall of '22.
Cuse contacted him late winter/spring of '23. And here we are...

 

[texascpa]

2019 season...didn't he red shirt and then transfer from/left (EMU) the school after the season?
He didn't attend a school in 2020 and 2021.
Hooked up with Blinn CC in 2022...played in a majority(not all of their games) fall of '22.
Cuse contacted him late winter/spring of '23. And here we are...

Maybe, similar to a couple of our own players, he decided not to play due to Covid.

 

[CuseLegacy]

2019 season...didn't he red shirt and then transfer from/left (EMU) the school after the season?
He didn't attend a school in 2020 and 2021.
Hooked up with Blinn CC in 2022...played in a majority(not all of their games) fall of '22.
Cuse contacted him late winter/spring of '23. And here we are...

Yes. He was a redshirt at EMU for the 2019 season. He entered the portal in 2020.

 

[SuFTW]

Maybe, similar to a couple of our own players, he decided not to play due to Covid.

He couldn’t find a new school. From the SI article.

Branham said he chose to transfer out of Eastern Michigan because it was not the right fit for him. That is when things took an unexpected turn. Other schools did not come calling which left him without a home. Literally.

 

[tep624]

I wonder if grades were an issue coming out of HS? With the offers he had, kind of odd he landed at Eastern Michigan.

Ran for 2k yards his JR and SR year in HS so didn’t appear to be a drop off in performance or anything.

 

[BillSU]

John Branham Jr. on Hudl

Watch John Branham Jr.'s videos and highlights on Hudl. More info: Blinn College - Mens Varsity Football / RB / Brenham, TX

www.hudl.com

JJ BRANHAM JR COMMITTED TO SYRACUSE 7/10/23 // 2019 NORTHLAND HS, COLUMBUS, OH, EASTERN MICHIGAN>BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE BRENHAM, TEXAS/HAS TWO YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY
#6 5'10" 215/ 40 4.5/ 5-10-5 SH 4.06/BP 340/185 BP 20 REPS/ SR YEAR AT NORTHLAND 2013 YDS 32 TDS / 2019 TOP RB OHIO/ 4 STAR/ ALL DISRICT/ALL REGION/ 247 TOP 50 RB IN NATION/ BLINN 107 CARRIES FOR 648 YDS, 7 TDS, 6.1YDS AVG.

ASSETS PER HUDL BLINN FILM:

THE IMPORTANCE OFTHE 40 YARD DASH

It is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by coaches and scouts particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time for every position can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football.

>FAST= 4.5 - 4.59

VERY FAST= 4.4 - 4.49

ELITE = 4.0 - 4.39

STRONG
VERY STRONG LEGS
VERY ELUSIVE
GREAT JUKES/FAKES
GREAT HANDS
CATCHES THE BALL
OUTRUNS BLOCKERS, (IN FILM DOESN'T GET A LOT OF HELP FROM O LINE), HAS TO ELUDE DB'S WHICH HE'S GOOD AT DOING
WILL DRAG TACKLERS FORWARD WITH HIM

GOOD GET

 

[kcsu]

Mike Lynch can land rb’s man

The player i sat next to on the flight said that the kids really like him

 

[kcsu]

This kid looks like a tuff kid i think we are going to be very happy he picked cuse

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

This kid looks like a tuff kid i think we are going to be very happy he picked cuse

He's gone through a lot - gunna be a dawg on the field. Serious measurables: 5'10/4.5 40 and per Rivals almost 230 pounds. Ouch.

 

[CuseLegacy]

I wonder if grades were an issue coming out of HS? With the offers he had, kind of odd he landed at Eastern Michigan.

Ran for 2k yards his JR and SR year in HS so didn’t appear to be a drop off in performance or anything.

Maybe. He didn't sign with EMU until the late signing period.

 

[All4SU]

Nothing like a couple years of real life to focus the mind - and heart.

 

[SWC75]

This kid looks like a tuff kid i think we are going to be very happy he picked cuse

He runs like he used to be homeless and isn't gonna be - ever again.

 

[AngryOtto]

Looked at his stats a Blinn. They ran a lot of backs. Had some good games. Had a couple down games with lack of carries. Team was 3-9. Possibly lack of Oline or qb allowed stacking of the line. Even if he does not get a lot of carries this year could be an asset on special teams.

 

[Lukeyloo]

This kid looks like a tuff kid i think we are going to be very happy he picked cuse

the Ravian Pierce of RBs

 

[cali315phan]

Kids going to be a really easy player to root for. Hope he gets a shot on the field. What a great story.

 

[kcsu]

the Ravian Pierce of RBs

Rav Dog !

 

[Cuse12]

Things I love to see in a RB (tucker really made me realize the positive traits of an above avg rb)

1. Change of direction
2. Falling forward
3. Acceleration through the line


This dude checks all those boxes. Man he can put that foot down and move. Let’s see how he develops with our team and offense. We needed a RB badly with the potential loss of LA.

 

[orangencpolice]

I wonder if grades were an issue coming out of HS? With the offers he had, kind of odd he landed at Eastern Michigan.

Ran for 2k yards his JR and SR year in HS so didn’t appear to be a drop off in performance or anything.

Obviously the last few years of his life have humbled him. He made the Dean’s Scholar List at Blinn and stated that he just wants to contribute to the team (Syracuse). His trials and tribulations have forced him to grow up and become a man. Glad to have him on this team.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Grown Ass Man
LGO!

Yup. The residual of having his level maturity on the team, his experiences with real life and how he will immediately be a voice that his teammates will listen too, goes so much further then just what he does on the field.

Whether he plays a lot or not, he understands the significance of being in college, having the opportunity to do so and what it feels like when someone actually takes a chance on you; especially when that chance gives you an opportunity for the future, whether it be playing football as a pro, or having his degree.

 

[MGDCuse]

I have to say, that piece from Mike M. was eye-opening. That SU offered this young man months ago, maybe it wasn't an insurance policy for Allen...and he battled homelessness? Wow. Rooting for this young man so much.

3 or 4 months ago, the staff was well aware Allen's situation, no? It may be a case of good timing for both parties. We were looking for another kid at rb in case things went south for LA and he was looking for a landing spot after juco. With the past relationship out of high school, it's a win/win. I like this kid a lot, even without much college experience. I'm a sucker for "feel good" story.