Crockett’s Branch receives D1 offer

Crockett County junior running back Jordan Branch hurt his knee on the final drive of the night against Munford in the jamboree at Dyersburg in August.

He’s out for the season, and that’s why it was a total surprise to him when he was given a scholarship offer by the University of Texas-San Antonio.

“Yeah I got a message on Facebook from one of their coaches, and I gave him a call,” Branch said. “He said he’d seen my film and liked what he saw, and they said they wanted me to come play for them.”

The film the coaches saw was from last year when Branch played as a sophomore.

He started as a freshman in 2014 on the Cavaliers team that was undefeated until the state quarterfinals as a fullback. He moved to running back last year, which is what Texas-San Antonio wants him to play.

Texas-San Antonio has begun recruiting West Tennessee a good bit this season. The school reportedly made a scholarship offer to Liberty running back Christian Ballard before he transferred from Chester County.

Texas-San Antonio is a team in Conference USA.

Branch said his recovery from his injury is going well.

“I partially tore everything in my knee, and it was good news when I got the message that I won’t need surgery,” Branch said. “I’ve been going through physical therapy and working hard to get it back to 100 percent.”

Branch said it doesn’t look like he will play at all this season, and he’s accepted that fact.

“I don’t like it, but I’ve gotten over it and I’m working hard for next year,” Branch said. “I want to have a good senior season and maybe get some more offers.”

Branch said he hasn’t had time to decide if Texas-San Antonio will be his school, and he has 16 months until his national signing day. He said he’s been in talks with other schools including Wisconsin, but this is his first offer.

He plans to major in criminal justice wherever he goes.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751