Two former Southern Nevada high school football stars were selected on the second day of the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh.
Former Liberty High wide receiver Germie Bernard was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (47th overall).
“He’s a clutch player,” Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio told reporters in a Friday news conference. “He’s made a lot of big catches for Alabama in crucial moments. You see that’s where they were going with the ball and you always want that in a player.”
In the third round, the Atlanta Falcons selected former Bishop Gorman wide receiver Zachariah Branch 79th overall out of Georgia.
Recent arrest
Branch, considered a Day 2 prospect by most draft gurus, was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia on two misdemeanors for obstruction of a law enforcement officer and obstructing a public sidewalk.
Branch was released shortly after being booked into Athens-Clarke County Jail on $39 cash bail. There are no further updates as to when Branch is due in court.
At Gorman, Branch was the top-ranked recruit in the Nevada’s class of 2023. He was a two-time first-team All-Southern Nevada selection (2021 and 2022) and is the 11th Gorman player to be drafted since 2016.
The 5-foot-9, 177-pound receiver spent his two seasons of college at USC. Branch transferred to Georgia prior to the 2025 season.
Last season with Georgia, Branch led the Bulldogs with 811 receiving yards on 81 catches and six touchdowns. He was also the team’s top returner on special teams, averaging 20.5 yards per kickoff return and 12 yards per punt return.
Branch is the great-nephew of the late Raiders receiver Cliff Branch, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
‘Really productive player’
Bernard isn’t the only Southern Nevada native in Pittsburgh. Desert Pines graduate and tight end Darnell Washington (a 2023 third-round pick by Pittsburgh), and Liberty graduate and offensive lineman Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh’s 2024 first-round pick, are with the Steelers.
“We’re very excited,” Angelichio said. “Germie is a tremendous person. Really impressed with him on his visit.
“His energy, his character, the makeup of who he is as a person. Great football player, really productive player who had a lot of success.”
Fautanu wrote in an Instagram story: “Two kids from Liberty High School. Congrats brother (Germie Bernard).”
It’s the fourth straight NFL draft where a Liberty graduate was selected. Bernard joins former Patriots offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (2023, sixth round), Fautanu (2024) and Moliki Matavao (2025 seventh round) in the NFL.
Aumavae-Laulu is with the Washington Commanders after being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. Matavao, a tight end, was selected by New Orleans and is still with the Saints.
The 6-foot-1, 206-pound wide receiver started his college career at Washington and spent the 2023 season at Michigan State before playing the last two seasons at Alabama.
Bernard last season led the Crimson Tide with 862 receiving yards as a senior and had seven touchdown catches.
“We like his versatility,” Angelichio said. “His flex to play inside and outside. When we get him, certainly we see a guy that can play inside and outside. When we start practicing, we’ll see where he fits best with the other receivers.”
Bernard, as a sophomore, starred on Liberty’s 2019 team that defeated Bishop Gorman in the 4A Desert Region title game that snapped the Gaels’ run of 10 straight state titles.
Bernard is a 2022 graduate from Liberty. He was named the Gatorade state football player of the year after recording 956 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to help the Patriots reach the 5A Southern Region title game.
Pittsburgh traded the 53rd pick with the Indianapolis Colts to move up to the 47th spot to take Bernard.
“The flexibility (of Bernard) is certainly always attractive when you got a guy that could have multiple roles,” Angelichio said. “When you can help on special teams and then you have that flexibility to be able to put him in the backfield, move him around, the defense really can’t focus in on one area.”
Bernard joins a talented Pittsburgh wide receiver room that includes DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., who the Steelers acquired in a trade from the Indianapolis Colts in a trade in March.
It’s unclear if Bernard will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, as the quarterback’s commitment for the team for the 2026 season is up in the air.
But Bernard will be under the guidance of first-year Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy, who takes over after Mike Tomlin resigned after the 2025 season following a 19-year stint as the Steelers’ coach.
Day 3 local draftees
There are several other locals that could be drafted Saturday during Rounds 4-7.
Utah State running back Miles Davis (Las Vegas High), Oklahoma running back Jayden Ott (Bishop Gorman), Cincinnati running back Tawee Walker (Mojave) and Arkansas linebacker Trent Whalen (Arbor View) are available.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
