Played tight end and outside linebacker at Varina High School in Richmond for Head Coach Gary Chilcoat...finished the year with 62 total tackles, 31 assists and 31 first hits...added seven tackles for loss for 45 negative yards...also had three sacks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a 14-yard touchdown...that interception return came against Chantilly High School when he had his top game of the year...had 11 tackles in addition to the interception return...named all-district and second-team all-region as a senior...two-year starter who helped Varina High to an 11-2 record as a senior and 9-1 ledger as a junior...averaging 12 points and nine rebounds for the basketball team as a senior...two-year starter in football and basketball as a power forward... recruited to Clemson by defensive line coach Chris Rumph...chose Clemson over Florida State, NC State and West Virginia.

Plyler on Branch: "Branch is a defensive end that the staff loves. He would have had better offers if his academic would have been in better shape early. Once he improved his academics his stock soared. The defensive staff likes his versatility as he can play bandit or defensive end."

Reminds Plyler of: Bryant McNeil