Alex Branch holds the NB · Starter spot in Akron Zips’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Alex Branch is a 6'0", 190-pound nickelback for the Akron Zips. Branch transferred to Akron after four seasons at Kent State, where he played in 11 games in 2023 with nine starts and recorded 34 tackles including 1.5 for a loss, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He appeared in four games during the 2024 season, accumulating 21 total tackles and one interception. In 2025, Branch appeared in 10 games with six starts for Akron, posting 33 total tackles (21 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, two pass deflections, two quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble. He recorded a season-high nine tackles against Wyoming on August 28.