In a grueling five-week stretch starting in early June,
Cleveland (Rio Rancho) two-way lineman
Desmond Branch crisscrossed the country with his oldest brother, David Jr., to at least 13 different college football camps in hopes of gaining the attention of college recruits.
Never mind the fact that the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Branch is one of the top players in New Mexico, a returning 5A first team All-State selection and an absolute beast on the football field.
Desmond Branch, Rio Rancho
Courtesy of 247Sports
"It's hard to get attention out here in New Mexico," said Branch, a game-changing senior offensive tackle/defensive end for a Storm squad that opens its season against La Cueva (Albuquerque) on Friday at 7 p.m. "So I had to put myself out there in front of everyone I could. David drove me everywhere, and I couldn't have done it without him. I love him. I remember one day we were at the University of Colorado and the next day we were at Iowa State. It was intense."
Which is one way to describe Branch, who comes from the richest of athletic bloodlines. Branch's father, David Sr., was a nose guard at the University of New Mexico. Branch has three older brothers: David Jr., who played at a community college in Arizona; Brandon, who is a safety at UNM; and Alan, who is a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills.
"I talk to all my brothers at least once a week," Desmond said. "I'm close with all of them."
Branch has received offers from Division I FBS schools UNM, New Mexico State, Eastern Michigan and UTEP. If he continues to progress, his list of suitors will only multiply as the season goes along. Big, strong and relentless, Branch dominates whether he's on the offensive or defensive line. Cleveland coach Heath Ridenour knows why Branch is being recruited as a defensive end at the college level.
"He's quick and explosive off the ball," Ridenour said. "He's as strong as anybody, but the difference is when the ball is snapped, he gets off faster than anyone. We have a solid offensive line, but we can't block him in practice — we just can't. Desmond presents a problem regardless of how good the offensive linemen are — he's that special."
Along with standout tight end/linebacker
Sterling Napier, Branch is one of only two seniors who played on Cleveland's 5A state championship winning team in 2011. Not surprisingly, Branch ranks the Storm's 48-28 win over Mayfield (Las Cruces) in the 5A title game as one of his favorite moments in his standout prep career. But his latest accomplishment — recording zero "loafs" in a scrimmage against Eldorado (Albuquerque) last week — also had him on a high.
The Storm coaching staff grades out every player on every snap, recording a loaf if they deemed the player didn't give the maximum effort.
"He played every snap and didn't take one play off," Ridenour said. "Based on effort level, he's in the 90th percentile every week. He didn't always have that type of work ethic, but to his credit, Desmond has really gotten after it the last couple of years."
When the coaches told Branch of his performance in the scrimmage, he felt a moment of glory.
"It definitely makes me proud because it shows all the hard work and conditioning I did in the summer is paying off right now," Branch said.
Branch will be the first to admit that he needed to improve his work ethic, describing himself as an "immature freshman."
His wake-up calls came in the form of watching other standout players at football camps in the ensuing summers.
"I compared myself to some of the top guys, and I knew I needed to be more intense," Branch said. "That really brought up my game."
Branch hasn't downshifted from fifth gear since, as he displays a relentlessness befitting of a Division I recruit.
