Jamaal Branch facts for kids

Jamaal Branch (born January 30, 1981) is a former American football player. He was a running back for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He played for two seasons with the Saints. Jamaal first joined the Saints in 2006. He was signed as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't picked in the main NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Colgate University.

Early Life and School Days

Jamaal Branch was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His family soon moved to Mashpee, Massachusetts. He still lives there today. Jamaal went to Falmouth High School. He graduated in 1999.

At Falmouth, Jamaal was a top athlete. He earned four "letters" for football and track. A letter means he was a key player on the team. He played football with Willie Ford, another future NFL player. Jamaal also played football at New Hampton Preparatory School. He was a postgraduate student there.

College Football Success

Branch played college football at Colgate University. He played from 2000–2001 and again from 2003-2004. In 2003, Jamaal was amazing. He led all of Division I football in rushing yards. He averaged 168.8 yards per game. He also led in points per game, with 12.5.

He set new NCAA records that year. He had 2,026 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. He also had 338 rushes. Jamaal played 11 games where he ran for over 100 yards. He did this for 11 games in a row!

In 2003, he won the Walter Payton Award. This award goes to the best player in Division I-AA football. Many people think it's like the Heisman Trophy for his division. Jamaal graduated from college in 2005. He was the first person in his family to go to and finish college.

Playing in the NFL

Before his first NFL season, Jamaal played in NFL Europe. He played for the Rhein Fire and Cologne Centurions. This helped him get ready for the NFL. It helped him improve his skills.

On December 29, 2006, the New Orleans Saints signed Jamaal. Just two days later, he scored his first touchdown. This was in a game against the Carolina Panthers. It was a 7-yard run into the end zone.

During the 2007 season, Jamaal got hurt. He broke his leg in a game against Philadelphia. He could not play for the rest of that season. The Saints released him from the team on May 2, 2008.

Life After Football

Today, Jamaal Branch works with young athletes. He helps Pop Warner Youth Football players in his hometown of Mashpee. He also works with a company called D-1 Athletes. He works with Isaac Byrd, a former NFL player.

At D-1 Athletes, Jamaal helps high school football players. These are players who want to play in college. He teaches them how to run faster. He also helps running backs with their special techniques.

Jamaal is from Mashpee, Massachusetts. He is of mixed heritage. He is African-American and Native American Indian. His mother is from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.