2018 (Redshirt Senior, Georgia Tech): Started all 13 games at defensive end to finish his career with 24-consecutive starts … Ranked ninth overall on the team and second among defensive linemen with 36 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a half-sack … Also had an interception and a pass breakup … Recorded at least one tackle in all 13 games and multiple stops in 9-of-13 contests … Notched a season-high with five tackles against eventual national champion Clemson (Sept. 22) and in the Quick Lane Bowl against Minnesota (Dec. 26) … Turned in one of his finest all-around performances of the season against Clemson, with a half-sack and an interception against the Tigers … His INT of Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence came deep in CU territory and led to a Georgia Tech score … Tallied four tackles apiece against USF (Sept. 8), North Carolina (Nov. 3) and Georgia (Nov. 24) … His four stops against UNC included a season-high 1.5 for loss … Swatted down a pass against Bowling Green that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by fellow defensive end Anree Saint-Amour.
2017 (Redshirt Junior, Georgia Tech): Started all 11 games at defensive tackle … Totaled 20 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Swatted down three passes – was the only non-DB on the team with multiple pass breakups … Opened the season with his second-highest tackle total of the season – three vs. Tennessee (Sept. 4) … Recorded a sack and one-and-a-half tackles for loss at Miami (Oct. 14) … Notched a four-yard TFL at Virginia (Nov. 4) … Turned in a career-best performance with seven tackles (five solo) to help lead Georgia Tech to a 28-22 win over No. 17 Virginia Tech (Nov. 11).
2016 (Redshirt Sophomore, Georgia Tech): Appeared in nine games as a reserve defensive lineman … Recorded five tackles, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup … Had a career-high two tackles versus Virginia (Nov. 19) … Recorded QB hurries versus Vanderbilt (Sept. 17) and in TaxSlayer Bowl win over Kentucky (Dec. 31) … Broke up a pass at Georgia (Nov. 26).
2015 (Redshirt Freshman, Trinity Valley C.C.): Logged 32 total tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and a team-leading seven sacks … Signed a National Letter of Intent with Georgia Tech in December and enrolled at Tech in January 2016.
2014 (True Freshman, Univ. of New Mexico): Redshirted.
High School: Two-time first-team all-state and all-district honoree at Cleveland H.S. (coach Heath Ridenour).
Personal: Has three brothers … Older brother, Alan Branch, played collegiate football at Michigan, was a second-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2007 and has won two Super Bowl championships as a member of his current team, the New England Patriots … Desmond is believed to be the first Yellow Jacket in the modern era to hail from the state of New Mexico … Majoring in business administration.
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 7 vs. No. 17 Virginia Tech, Nov. 11, 2017
Solo Tackles: 5 vs. No. 17 Virginia Tech, Nov. 11, 2017
Tackles for Loss: 1.5 at No. 11/10 Miami, Oct. 14, 2017
Sacks: 1.0 at No. 11/10 Miami, Oct. 14, 2017
Quarterback Hurries: 1, three times – last at. No. 11/10 Miami, Oct. 14, 2017
Pass Breakups: 1, four times – last vs. Wake Forest, Oct. 21, 2017
