JJ Branham's Journey to Syracuse Was Anything But Ordinary
JJ Branham committed to Syracuse Monday night, but his journey to the power five program was anything but ordinary. Out of high school, Branham was a three star recruit with double digit offers. Including from power five institutions such as Boston College, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kentucky and Pittsburgh. Ultimately, he signed with Eastern Michigan as part of their 2019 recruiting class. After redshirting for one season, he elected to transfer.
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.
"I was homeless for a couple months," Branham said. "I got a job and got an apartment after that. My first job was at a discount store called Rose's."
That was the beginning of a period where Branham was out of football for two years during which he worked various jobs. He did not play during the 2020 season nor the 2021 campaign. That was when he felt he was at his lowest point until answered prayers changed his life's direction.
"January of 2022 I got in touch with Blinn," Branham said. "One day I was watching my highlights with my friends and I literally busted out crying because I knew I was at one point in my life then and now I was at the lowest. I talked to God that night and prayed, went to sleep crying. He told me to make another Twitter so I made a Twitter. The first team I hit up was Blinn College. They were the first one to hit me back.
"Knowing how long I had been sitting out I knew the hype I had in high school wouldn't be the same. So I took that first opportunity. I realized later that was my only opportunity because no other school I hit had hit me back. Blinn hit me back first and I signed with them in 2022."
Once at Blinn, Branham made his mark earning the starting running back spot, leading the team in rushing and earning a first team all conference selection. While division one programs started to take notice, most were very inconsistent with their interest and contact. With one exception.
"To be honest, I wasn't getting any attention or any love from many schools," Branham said. "Coaches would come for a game, give me a few words, turn their back on me and leave me. Syracuse stuck with me for the whole process, about three or four months. They kept up that relationship. They were pretty much the only one who kept it consistent with me. With me, I'm a loyalty guy. If you're loyal to me, I'm loyal to you. So I ended up committing to Syracuse."
The offer from Syracuse came a few months ago, Branham said.
"They've said a lot," Branham said. "Then again, what stood out to me was coming in and being a leader for the younger guys. Being an experienced guy and also coming in to do damage. I'm not saying I'm going to start, I'm not saying anything. I'm just coming to compete."
The primary point of contact with Syracuse was running backs coach Mike Lynch.
"Real swell guy," Branham said. "Loyal and so am I. We literally gelled as soon as we had our first conversation. He also recruited me out of high school. Mike Lynch is a real cool guy. Great guy."
A football journey that included leaving the school one signed with to homelessness to having to find employment just to afford a place to live would leave many resentful and beaten down. It would break many. Not JJ Branham, who said he never stopped believing in himself and where football would take him thanks to his faith.
"To be honest with you, in my mind I always knew something was going to happen," Branham said. "I just didn't know how or when or what it would be in. So I knew something was going to happen in my life. From the time I was down, the Devil was knocking me down because he didn't want me to see the glory that I had or I was going to have. Because he knew I had strength in God.
"When you ask how it feels, I can't really explain it. I give glory to God every day. It's more of a thank God type of feeling."
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