UPDATED 4/20, 12:10 p.m. ET: A spokesperson for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department provided the following statement to Complex about Zachariah Branch’s arrest:
At approximately i2:20 a.m., as downtown establishments were closing, a large crowd gathered outside Cloud Bar. Despite the business preparing to close for the evening, individuals continued attempting to enter the premises.
Officers on scene issued multiple lawful commands directing the crowd to clear the sidewalk. Zacharia Branch was directly addressed by officers and warned to disperse. Mr. Branch refused to comply with these lawful orders.
As a result, Mr. Branch was arrested and charged with obstruction. He was also cited for obstructing a public sidewalk.
The actual police report on the incident, the spokesperson said, is not yet authorized for release.
See original story below.
NFL draft prospect Zachariah Branch was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia, according to local records.
Branch, a former Georgia wide receiver and projected Day 2 pick, is facing two misdemeanor charges related to obstruction. Authorities allege he blocked a public sidewalk and failed to follow law enforcement instructions at the scene.
Booking information shows Branch was taken into custody shortly after 1 a.m. and released a little over two hours later after posting a small bond.
According to a police report obtained by the NFL Network, an officer claimed Branch did not comply with repeated verbal commands to clear the area. No additional details about the circumstances leading up to the interaction have been publicly released.
The arrest comes just hours after Branch attended Georgia’s spring football game on Saturday. His younger brother, Zion Branch, currently plays defensive back for the Bulldogs.
Despite the incident, Branch remains one of the more intriguing names in this year’s draft class. After transferring from USC, he put together a strong 2025 season at Georgia, setting a program record with 81 receptions while totaling 811 yards and six touchdowns.
He also impressed scouts at the NFL combine, posting a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash, one of the fastest marks among wide receivers.
Branch has been widely projected as a second-round selection, with several analysts ranking him among the top available prospects at his position.
It remains unclear whether the arrest will impact his draft stock as teams finalize their evaluations in the days leading up to the event.
