Valentino Blake
No. 30, 38, 41, 47 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Jacksonville, Florida | August 9, 1990||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Thurgood Marshall (Missouri City, Texas) | ||||||||||||
College: | UTEP | ||||||||||||
Undrafted: | 2012 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com |
Valentino Antwon Blake (born August 9, 1990) is a former American football cornerback and special teamer. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants. He played college football at Texas–El Paso (UTEP).
In September 2016, Blake changed his first name from Antwon to Valentino.[1]
College career[]
He played college football at Texas-El Paso (UTEP) from 2008 to 2011. During his career at UTEP, Blake totaled 137 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.[2] He started every game his junior and senior years also started 1 game his sophomore season before suffering an ankle injury.
Professional career[]
Jacksonville Jaguars[]
Blake signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars following the 2012 NFL Draft as a rookie free agent.[3]
He was released on September 1, 2013.
Pittsburgh Steelers[]
On September 2, 2013, Blake was claimed on waivers by the Steelers. Blake would remain on the team over the next 3 seasons. He gathered his first interception during a Week 8, 2014 game against the Colts, picking off Andrew Luck.
In 2015, Blake became a starter. Though the Steeler pass defense was one of its worst in decades, Blake played a role. During Week 5, he picked off Philip Rivers, and ran it 70 yards for his first pick-six. He would have 2 more picks during the year, one in a Week 8 loss to the Bengals, and one against the Bengals in the Wild Card game.
Tennessee Titans[]
On March 17, 2016, Blake signed with the Tennessee Titans, reuniting him with former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau.[4]
New York Giants[]
On March 20, 2017, Blake signed with the New York Giants.[5] On August 23, 2017, the Giants placed Blake on the Reserve/Exempt list after leaving practice.[6] He was released on September 2, 2017.[7]
On September 5, 2017, Blake announced his retirement from the NFL.
References[]
- ^ Wyatt, Jim. "What's In a Name? Titans CB Antwon Blake Explains". The Official Site of the Tennessee Titans. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Jaguars S, Antwon Blake Interview". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ "Jaguars sign 17 rookie Free Agents". Jaguars.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ Titans Agree to Terms with CB Antwon Blake
- ^ Eisen, Michael (March 20, 2017). "New York Giants sign QB Geno Smith, CB Valentino Blake". Giants.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017.
- ^ Williams, Charean (August 23, 2017). "Valentino Blake leaves Giants". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
- ^ "Giants Released CB Valentino Blake". NFLTradeRumors.com. September 2, 2017.
External links[]
- 1990 births
- Living people
- Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida
- Players of American football from Houston
- UTEP Miners football players
- American football cornerbacks
- American football safeties
- Jacksonville Jaguars players
- Pittsburgh Steelers players
- Tennessee Titans players
- New York Giants players