{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Blake Watson | image =Buckley Participates in USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp (8607861) (cropped 2).jpg | image_size = | caption = Watson with the Denver Broncos in 2024 | currentteam = | number = | position = Running back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|14}} | birth_place = Queens, New York, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 9 | weight_lb = 195 | high_school = Green Hope<br>(Cary, North Carolina) | college = Old Dominion (2018–2022)<br>Memphis (2023) | undraftedyear = 2024 | pastteams = * Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2024}}) * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2025}})* | status = | highlights = * First-team All-AAC (2023) | statleague = NFL | statseason = 2025 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Rush attempts | statvalue1 = 4 | statlabel2 = Rushing yards | statvalue2 = 10 | statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns | statvalue3 = | statlabel4 = Receptions | statvalue4 = 1 | statlabel5 = Receiving yards | statvalue5 = 13 | statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue6 = | pfr = WatsBl00 }}
'''Blake Watson''' (born October 14, 1999) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs and Memphis Tigers and was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
==College career== ===Old Dominion=== On October 15, 2022, in the 49–21 upset win against Coastal Carolina, Watson set many school records, rushing the ball 19 times for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns.<ref name="record">{{cite web |last1=Minium |first1=Harry |title=ODU Rolls Past Unbeaten Coastal Carolina, 49-21, Behind Record-Breaking Performance from Blake Watson |url=https://odusports.com/news/2022/10/15/football-odu-knocks-off-unbeaten-coastal-carolina-49-21-behind-stellar-performance-from-blake-watsojn.aspx |website=Old Dominion University Athletics |access-date=September 7, 2023 |date=October 15, 2022}}</ref> In the 2022 season, he rushed 158 times for 918 yards and 5 touchdowns, and 37 receptions for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns.<ref name="record" /> He finished his career at Old Dominion with 398 carries for 2,146 yards and 14 touchdowns, and 60 receptions for 448 yards and 3 touchdowns.<ref name="record" /> On November 28, 2022, Watson announced he would enter the transfer portal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Running back Blake Watson, ODU's leading rusher, enters NCAA transfer portal |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2022/11/28/running-back-blake-watson-odus-leading-rusher-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal/ |website=The Virginian-Pilot |access-date=November 18, 2023 |date=November 28, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
===Memphis=== On December 19, 2022, Watson announced he would be transferring to Memphis.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/2022/12/20/memphis-football-adds-commitment-blake-watson-old-dominion/69742314007/|title=Memphis football gets transfer commitment from Old Dominion RB Blake Watson|author=Barnes, Evan|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|date=December 19, 2022|access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> In the 21–31 loss against Tulane, Watson carried the ball 5 times for 13 yards, but would sit out for the rest of the game due to injury concern.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/football/2023/10/13/memphis-football-blake-watson-ryan-silverfield-tulane-green-wave-simmons-bank-liberty-stadium/71179591007/|title=Why Memphis football running back Blake Watson didn't play in 2nd half vs. Tulane|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|author=Dylan, Jonah|date=October 13, 2023|access-date=November 18, 2023}}</ref>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Season ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Receiving |- ! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yards !! Avg !! TD !! Rec !! Yards !! Avg !! TD |- ! 2018 ! Old Dominion | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 |- ! 2019 ! Old Dominion | 11 || 3 || 25 || 116 || 4.6 || 1 || 13 || 79 || 6.1 || 0 |- ! 2020 ! Old Dominion | 0 || 0 || colspan="13"| ''Redshirt 15px|Redshirted <small>following ODU's cancellation of 2020 team season</small>'' |- ! 2021 ! Old Dominion | 11 || 10 || '''215''' || 1,112 || 5.2 || 8 || 10 || 55 || 5.5 || 1 |- ! 2022 ! Old Dominion | 11 || '''11''' || 158 || 918 || 5.8 || 5 || 37 || 314 || 8.5 || 2 |- ! 2023 ! Memphis | '''13''' || '''11''' || 192 || '''1,152''' || '''6.0''' || '''14''' || '''53''' || '''480''' || '''9.1''' || '''3''' |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/blake-watson-2.html Career] !! 49 !! 34 !! 590 !! 3,298 !! 5.6 !! 28 !! 113 !! 928 !! 8.2 !! 6 |}
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 9 1/2 | weight = 200 | dash = 4.40 | ten split = 1.55 | twenty split = 2.47 | shuttle = 4.32 | cone drill = 7.13 | vertical = 41.5 | broad ft = 11 | broad in = 3 | arm span = 29 7/8 | hand span = 8 3/4 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1037619&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Blake Watson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref> }} ===Denver Broncos=== Watson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos following the 2024 NFL draft on May 10, 2024.<ref name="l472">{{cite web | last=Dylan | first=Jonah | title=Denver Broncos sign Blake Watson as UDFA: Pros, cons of the deal | website=The Commercial Appeal | date=2024-04-27 | url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/2024/04/27/blake-watson-memphis-football-tigers-denver-broncos-running-back-free-agent-nfl-draft/73424188007/ | access-date=2024-10-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos sign 13 college free agents|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-13-college-free-agents-x7676|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=May 10, 2024}}</ref> He was also selected by the Memphis Showboats in the second round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17.<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 UFL College Draft: Showboats select Kansas QB Jason Bean with No. 1 pick |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/2024-ufl-college-draft-tracking-every-selection |website=FoxSports.com |date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref> Watson notably made the Broncos initial 53-man roster out of training camp as a UDFA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=2024-08-27 |title=First look at the Broncos’ 2024 initial 53-man roster |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/first-look-at-the-broncos-2024-initial-53-man-roster |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=DenverBroncos.com |language=}}</ref>
On October 17, 2024, Watson was waived by the Broncos, and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=17 October 2024 |title=Broncos waive RB Blake Watson ahead of 'TNF' |url=https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/17/nfl-news-broncos-waive-rb-blake-watson-ahead-of-tnf/ |access-date=18 October 2024 |website=Broncos Wire|publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=2024-10-19 |title=Broncos sign RB Blake Watson to practice squad |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-rb-blake-watson-to-practice-squad |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Denver Broncos |language=}}</ref> On December 24, he was promoted to the active roster.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=2024-12-24 |title=Broncos promoting RB Blake Watson to 53-man roster |url=https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2024/12/24/broncos-news-rb-blake-watson-promoted-to-53-man-roster/ |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Broncos Wire |language=}}</ref>
On August 25, 2025, Watson was waived by the Broncos with a short-term injury settlement after suffering a PCL strain during Week 3 of the preseason against the New Orleans Saints.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heath |first1=Jon |title=Broncos’ backfield might be set after the Blake Watson cut |url=https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2025/08/25/broncos-news-running-backs-set-after-blake-watson-cut/85824688007/ |access-date=26 August 2025 |website=Broncos Wire}}</ref> However, team expressed interest in bringing him back on the practice squad once he had recovered from his injury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=2025-08-31 |title=Broncos interested in signing RB to practice squad once he's healthy |url=https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2025/08/31/broncos-rb-blake-watson-could-return-practice-squad/85919259007/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Broncos Wire |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Chad |date=2025-08-30 |title=Insider Reveals Curious Angle to Broncos Waiving RB Blake Watson |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/broncos-have-interest-re-signing-blake-watson-report |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Denver Broncos On SI |language=}}</ref>
===Tennessee Titans=== On September 29, 2025, Watson signed with the Tennessee Titans' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mihalko |first1=Mark |title=Tennessee Titans shuffle practice squad, add Alex Johnson and Blake Watson |url=https://titanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2025/09/29/tennessee-titans-add-alex-johnson-blake-watson-practice-squad/86424330007/ |website=Titans Wire |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with Tennessee on January 5, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Sign 11 Players to Futures Contracts|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-sign-11-players-to-futures-contracts|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=January 5, 2026}}</ref>
On April 30, 2026, Watson was waived by the Titans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyatt |first1=Jim |title=Titans Waive Six Players on Thursday |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-waive-six-players-on-thursday |website=TennesseeTitans.com |access-date=1 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://odusports.com/sports/football/roster/blake-watson/6569 Old Dominion Monarchs bio] * [https://gotigersgo.com/sports/football/roster/blake-watson/10887 Memphis Tigers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Blake}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:American football running backs Category:Old Dominion Monarchs football players Category:Memphis Tigers football players Category:Players of American football from Queens, New York Category:Denver Broncos players Category:Tennessee Titans players