Calen Bullock, Jonah Monheim and Zachariah Branch Earn AP All-Pac-12 Honors

Football | December 08, 2023

LOS ANGELES–Calen Bullock, Jonah Monheim and Zachariah Branch have earned AP All-Pac-12 honors. 

Bullock was named to the AP All-Pac-12 First Team, while Monheim and Branch were named to the AP All-Pac-12 Second Team. 

Bullock, a junior and 2022 First Team All-American, finished the regular season with 61 tackles, 7 PBUs and 2 INTs, including one returned 30 yards for a TD against Utah. He also earned placement on the All-Pac-12 First Team and AP Midseason All-America Second Team.         

 

Monheim’s play on the offensive line was a crucial piece success of QB Caleb Williams. USC finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in scoring offense (41.8), No. 5 nationally in passing offense (329.8) and No. 8 in team passing efficiency (167.22). Per PFF, the USC offense earned a No. 18 in overall offense with a 85.6 grade. Monheim was also named an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

 

Branch, a freshman superstar, recorded 29 receptions for 311 yards and 2 TDs during the 2023 season. He also rushed for 70 yards on 8 carries with 1 TD. 

He is also one of the nation’s most electric returners. Against Stanford on Sept. 9, he returned a punt for a 75-yard TD in the second quarter. He also had a 96-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. San Jose State on Aug. 26. He is the first Trojan since Adoree’ Jackson in 2016 to have a punt return and kickoff return for a TD, as well as at least one receiving TD in the same season. Jackson had 2 punt returns and 2 kickoff returns for TDs and 1 TD reception during the 2016 season. 

 

Since 1971 (when records are available) Branch is one of just 3 USC players to accomplish the feat, joining Jackson and Curtis Conway (1992 – 1 kickoff return TD, 1 punt return TD, 5 rec TDs). 

 

Branch finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation in punt returns (20.6), No. 2 in the nation in combined kick returns (751) and punt return TDs (1) and No. 6 in the nation in kickoff return TDs (1). 

 

Branch was named to the USA Today All-American First Team as a returner and the PFF First team All-American as a return specialist. He is USC’s first-ever true freshman First Team All-American. USC now has 176 First Team All-Americans.

Additionally, he was named a Sports Illustrated Second Team All-American as a kick returner, a CBS…