Blake Watson Bio
Blake Watson is an American professional football running back known for his record-setting college career and his path to the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent. He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Memphis Tigers before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2024. Watson currently plays for the Tennessee Titans, continuing his professional journey as a versatile back with experience as both a rusher and a receiver.
Early Life and Background
Blake Watson was born on October 14, 1999, in Queens, New York, in the United States. He grew up in a region widely recognized for producing competitive athletes, and he later relocated to North Carolina, where he attended Green Hope High School in Cary. His time in Cary helped shape his development as a football player, giving him access to strong high school competition and structured coaching that prepared him for the next level of the sport.
During his high school years, Watson worked on the fundamentals of the running back position, building the balance, vision, and contact balance that would later define his college profile. His physical development continued through his teenage years, and he eventually reached a listed height of 5 feet 9 inches and a listed playing weight of 195 pounds. Those measurements, combined with his on-field production, helped him earn a college opportunity at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Path to American Football
Watson began his college career at Old Dominion University, where he played for the Old Dominion Monarchs from 2018 through 2022. He steadily developed into one of the program’s most productive running backs, earning a major role in the offense and contributing both on the ground and through the passing game. On November 28, 2022, Watson announced that he would enter the transfer portal, signaling a search for a new opportunity to showcase his skills.
On December 19, 2022, Watson announced that he would transfer to the University of Memphis, joining the Memphis Tigers for the 2023 season. His lone season at Memphis was productive enough to earn him First-team All-AAC honors, confirming his status as one of the top running backs in the American Athletic Conference. Following that campaign, he declared for the 2024 NFL draft, where he went undrafted but quickly found a professional home.
Blake Watson Career
Early Career (2018–2023)
Watson’s early college years at Old Dominion were a period of steady growth. Over the course of his time with the Monarchs, he carried the ball 398 times for 2,146 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also adding 60 receptions for 448 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Those numbers established him as a featured back, and a signature performance came on October 15, 2022, when he rushed 19 times for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 49–21 upset win against Coastal Carolina, setting multiple school records in the process.
In the 2022 season alone, Watson rushed 158 times for 918 yards and 5 touchdowns, and added 37 receptions for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. After entering the transfer portal and committing to Memphis, he continued to produce, earning First-team All-AAC recognition in 2023. That award served as the final validation of his college resume and positioned him for a transition to professional football.
NFL Breakthrough (2024)
Watson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos on May 10, 2024, shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft. He was also selected by the Memphis Showboats in the second round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17, an acknowledgment of his professional upside. In a notable achievement for an undrafted rookie, Watson made the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp, cementing his place on the active roster to begin the regular season.
His 2024 regular season was brief at the NFL level. On October 17, 2024, Watson was waived by the Broncos and re-signed to the practice squad, a common path for young backs adjusting to the pro game. He returned to the active roster on December 24, giving him a late-season opportunity to contribute. Through his Broncos tenure, his NFL statistics included 4 rush attempts for 10 yards and 1 reception for 13 receiving yards.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On August 25, 2025, Watson was waived by the Denver Broncos with a short-term injury settlement after suffering a PCL strain during Week 3 of the preseason against the New Orleans Saints. The Broncos expressed interest in bringing him back on the practice squad once he had recovered, but his next NFL opportunity came elsewhere. On September 29, 2025, Watson signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad, beginning a new chapter in his professional career.
Watson continued to progress within the Titans organization. He signed a reserve and future contract with Tennessee on January 5, 2026, a strong signal that the team viewed him as part of its long-term plans. He remained with the Titans into the following offseason before being waived on April 30, 2026. His time in Tennessee reflected his continued development and the league-wide belief in his potential as a reliable reserve back.
Driving Style and Strengths
Watson’s running style is built on contact balance, vision, and pass-catching ability out of the backfield. At 5 feet 9 inches and 195 pounds, he plays with a low center of gravity that helps him absorb contact and finish runs. His production as a receiver in college, including 60 receptions at Old Dominion and additional work at Memphis, makes him a natural fit for modern offenses that lean on backs in the passing game.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Watson’s career came on October 15, 2022, when he set multiple Old Dominion school records in a single game against Coastal Carolina. Another milestone followed when he made the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2024, a rare feat for a rookie free agent. His First-team All-AAC selection in 2023 further cemented his place among the top collegiate running backs of his draft class.
Blake Watson Career Wins
While Watson’s professional career is still in its early stages, his record-setting college career provides a clear foundation of production. His totals at Old Dominion included 398 carries for 2,146 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, along with 60 receptions for 448 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. His single-game high of 259 rushing yards against Coastal Carolina stands as one of the most notable individual performances in Old Dominion history.
Old Dominion Highlights
Watson’s Old Dominion career was highlighted by his 2022 season, in which he rushed 158 times for 918 yards and 5 touchdowns and added 37 receptions for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns. His career-long totals placed him among the most productive backs in program history. The October 15, 2022, upset win over Coastal Carolina served as the signature moment of his time in Norfolk and remains a benchmark performance.
Other Wins and Performances
Watson’s lone season at Memphis in 2023 was cut short by an injury concern after a 21–31 loss to Tulane, in which he carried the ball 5 times for 13 yards. Despite the abbreviated workload, his overall body of work was strong enough to earn First-team All-AAC honors for the year. That recognition, combined with his Old Dominion record book, formed the foundation that led to his professional opportunity.
Blake Watson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Blake Watson’s family background is limited, and detailed records about his parents and extended family are not widely available. He was born and raised in Queens, New York, before moving to North Carolina for high school, a transition that placed him in a strong football environment. His development through Green Hope High School in Cary was supported by the local community and coaching staff.
Personal Life
Blake Watson has kept much of his personal life private, and no public details about a spouse or children are available. His professional focus has remained on his football career, moving from Old Dominion to Memphis, and then through the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans organizations. As a young professional athlete, he continues to build his career and reputation within the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a transitional year for Blake Watson. He began the preseason with the Denver Broncos but suffered a PCL strain during Week 3 of the preseason against the New Orleans Saints, leading to a waiver and a short-term injury settlement on August 25, 2025. The Broncos expressed interest in bringing him back to the practice squad once he recovered, indicating that the organization still valued his upside despite the injury.
Watson’s next opportunity came on September 29, 2025, when he signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad. He spent the bulk of the regular season developing within the Titans system, and his progress was rewarded on January 5, 2026, when he signed a reserve and future contract with Tennessee. That move reflected confidence from the Titans’ coaching staff and front office in his long-term potential.
Looking ahead, Watson remains a young back with a productive college resume and growing professional experience. His combination of rushing production, receiving ability, and special teams value gives him a path to contribute at the NFL level. His continued development within the Titans organization, or a potential future opportunity elsewhere, will shape the next phase of his career.
