Branch possesses exceptional range and good ball skills in the secondary, but he made a name for himself as a kickoff returner in 2007, establishing school records while leading the Big East Conference with an average of 28.89 yards per return. Regarded as the fastest cornerback in college football, his ability to compete for the ball in flight and make plays in run support could see him shift to free safety at the next level.

The only Connecticut player to ever return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season, Branch was the most experienced defensive back on the squad last year. Since taking over right cornerback duties as a junior, he has grown into his leadership role and the staff feels he could one day make an ideal coach, as he makes the extra effort to mentor and work out with the team's younger players.

Branch attended Cicero-North Syracuse High School, where he earned second-team All-State, All-Central New York and All-Area honors as a tailback and outside linebacker for the Northstars. He also excelled in track, and was the recipient of the Gatorade New York State Track Athlete of the Year Award after winning the 2004 National Indoor Track Championship in the 60 meters (6.82). He finished first in the state in both the 100 and 200 meters as a senior, setting a school record with a 10.60-second clocking in the 100-meter dash.

Branch was expected to accept a scholarship to local Syracuse, but opted to enroll at Connecticut instead. He played mostly on special teams in 2004, but became the only true freshman to start a game that year, taking over left cornerback duties for the Georgia Tech game. He recorded at least one tackle in every game, except vs. Pittsburgh, finishing with 20 tackles (12 solos) while averaging 20.0 yards on ten kickoff returns.

In May, 2005, Branch was one of five Connecticut football players arrested after an incident in which the window of a motor vehicle was shot out. The driver's-side window of a vehicle driven by a 55-year-old woman was shot out by a pellet gun as two vehicles passed each other in a parking lot, and the suspects fled the scene in a white sport utility vehicle, the police said. A few minutes later, the police located the suspects and the vehicle. They were all charged with possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and released after posting $750 bond.

Branch spent the first part of the 2005 campaign playing in reserve. He took over right cornerback duties at midseason, starting the final five games and his next 30 contests in the lineup. He produced 42 tackles (21 solos) with an assisted sack, four pass break-ups and two interceptions. His play in the secondary helped the team rank sixth in the nation in total defense, allowing just 297.18 yards per game.

In 2006, Branch registered 79 tackles (47 solos) with four stops behind the line of scrimmage for the Big East Conference's second-ranked secondary that gave up 178.5 yards per game. He caused and recovered two fumbles, broke up four passes and also picked off another.

Even though he led the Big East and ranked 13th nationally with an average of 28.89 yards per kickoff return, scoring twice, Branch was only named a second-team All-Conference choice in 2007. He gained 780 yards on 27 attempts, as his two touchdown returns set season and career records at Connecticut. He ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 89 tackles (53 solos), including three stops for losses, a forced fumble and 10 pass deflections.

In 48 games at Connecticut, Branch started 31 contests. He recorded 224 tackles (133 solos) with an assisted sack for minus-4 yards and 7.5 stops for losses of 32 yards. He caused three fumbles and recovered two others, advancing one 8 yards. He posted 18 pass deflections and three interceptions for 15 yards in returns. He also returned 37 kickoffs for 980 yards (26.5 avg) and a pair of touchdowns.

Branch ranks tied for ninth with Billy DiYeso (1966-68) and Dave Korponai (1961-63) on the school career-record list with 37 kickoff returns...He is the only player in school history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season (2007) and a career...His two scores tied the Big East Conference season-record that he shares with Lew Lawhorn of Temple (1992), Kevin Johnson of Syracuse (1997 and 1998), Nate Terry of West Virginia (1997), Shawn Terry of West Virginia (2000) and Nate Jones of Rutgers (2002)...His 980 yards on kickoff returns placed seventh on UConn's all-time record chart...His career average of 26.49 yards per kickoff return broke the old school career-record of 26.1 yards by George Boothe (1986-88)...His 27 kickoff returns in 2007 rank fifth on Connecticut's season-record list behind Tory Taylor (41, 1998), Jordan Younger (38, 1999), Carl Bradford (34, 2000) and Joe Markus (30, 1981)...His 780 yards on kickoff returns in 2007 rank second on the school season-record chart, topped only by Tory Taylor's 849 yards in 1998...That total ranks fifth on the Big East Conference season-record books behind Will Blackmon of Boston College (922 yards, 2003), Adam Jones of West Virginia (867, 2003), Darius Reynaud of West Virginia (813, 2006) and Terrell Willis of Rutgers (813, 1995)...His average of 28.9 yards per kickoff return in 2007 broke the old school season-record average of 28.5 by Boothe in 1987...Only Mike Imoh of Virginia Tech (18 for 549, 30.5 avg, 2003), Johnson (23 for 690, 30.0 avg, 1998) and Lew Lawhorn of Temple (20 for 600, 30.0 avg, 1992) had better averages in a season in Big East annals...Gained 184 yards on kickoff returns vs. Rutgers in 2007, breaking the old school game-record of 165 yards by Boothe vs. Maine in 1986...His 184 yards rank sixth on the Big East game-record board...Returned seven kickoffs vs. West Virginia in 2007, the second-highest game total in Big East history (Dietrich Jells of Pittsburgh had eight vs. Virginia Tech in 1993)...His 97-yard kickoff returns vs. both Akron and Rutgers in 2007 tied Larry Taylor (vs. Temple in 2004) for the fifth-longest kickoff return in school history.

Arman Shields

Position: WR

School: Richmond

Status: Senior

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185

40 Time: 4.44

Standout lower level prospect who was invited to the NFL Combine despite missing all but the first game of the 2007 season due to a knee injury. Shields will have to prove his knee has healed to have any shot at getting drafted, of course, but when healthy he has shown the combination of size, strength, burst, straight-line speed and reliable hands to surprise at the next level - just as the last Spider to earn an invitation to the Combine (veteran linebacker Shawn Barber) has.

Earned All-Conference honors after leading his team to its first conference championship under head coach Kenny Lucas in 2002... Made 26 receptions for 350 yards and five touchdowns as a senior... Recorded 22 tackles, four pass break-ups and one interception for the Conference's top-ranked defense... Also helped lead the track team to a conference title.

Positives: Lanky frame with room for additional growth. ... Has the straight-line speed to challenge deep and is able to generate consistent separation from defenders due to his burst out of his breaks and effective upper body fakes. ... Reliable receiver who catches the ball with his hands. ... Hard-worker who takes his role as a downfield blocker seriously.

Negatives: Has to prove he has recovered from the knee injury that limited him to only one game in 2007 (Vanderbilt). ... Adequate physical tools in all areas, but may lack the special speed or burst to operate effectively against elite competition. ... Marginal quickness off the snap and can be re-routed with physical coverage. ... Struggled tracking passes over his shoulder.