Cibola Graduate Alan Branch earns second Super Bowl Ring

The New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons Sunday Night 34-28 in overtime to win Super Bowl 51. It was one of the most dramatic Super Bowl endings in NFL history and Cibola High School Graduate Alan Branch played a role in a game people will not forget anytime soon.

With the Patriots down 28-12 in the 4th quarter with 8:30 remaining Atlanta Quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked and Branch recovered a well-timed fumble. The turnover spurred a Patriot Touchdown when Tom Brady connected with Danny Amendola for a 6-yard touchdown to make it 28-20. Branch would finish the game with 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery.

This is Branch's second Super Bowl ring having won his first in 2014 when the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24.

Branch who grew up in the Albuquerque Area was a Rivals.com 4-Star Prospect and an Army All-American out of high school who eventually signed with Michigan. Branch was named the New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004 and despite his size at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds Branch lined up at running back, receiver, and even returned punts, but was primarily recruited as a defensive tackle.

During the 2006 season at Michigan Branch recorded 56 tackles and was drafted as the 33rd overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals during the 2007 NFL Draft.

Branch's younger brother Desmond is currently a RS-Junior on the Georgia Tech Roster. The 6-foot-3, 270 pound Desmond played at Cleveland High School (graduate of 2014).

On March 15, 2015, Branch re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year deal worth a maximum of $6.6 million.