Jamaal Branch

Jamaal Branch

No. --     Free Agent
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: January 30, 1981 (1981-01-30)
Place of birth: Hartford, Connecticut
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	Weight: 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College: Colgate
Undrafted in 2006
Debuted in 2006 for the New Orleans Saints
Career history
* New Orleans Saints (2006–2007) *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
* Walter Payton Award (2003)
Stats at NFL.com

Jamaal Branch (born January 30, 1981) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Colgate University.

Early life and education

Jamaal Branch was born in Hartford, Connecticut and his family moved to Mashpee, Massachusetts, where he still resides. He is a 1999 graduate of Falmouth High School, where he was a four-year letter-winner for the football team and was teammates at Falmouth with another former NFL player, Willie Ford.

College career

Branch played college football at Colgate University from 2000–2001, 2003-2004. After sitting out all of 2002 for personal reasons, Branch led all of Division I football with 168.8 rushing yards and 12.5 points per game in 2003, setting NCAA records for yards (2,026), touchdowns (25), rushes (338), 100-yard games (11), and consecutive 100-yard games (11). He received the 2003 Walter Payton Award, given annually by The Sports Network.com to the best player in Division I-AA football. It is widely considered to be the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy for Division I-A.

Pro career

On December 29, 2006, it was reported that the New Orleans Saints signed Branch to their roster. Two days later, in the Saints' New Year's Eve game against the Carolina Panthers, Branch scored his first touchdown. It was a catch that was 7 yard outside rush to the end zone. Branch broke his leg on the opening kickoff of the 2007 season's week 16 game against Philadelphia. Branch did not play again that season. He was released by the Saints on May 2, 2008.