Martin Blake Season 2023

Walk-on running back from the same high school (Canyon Springs) as former Aztec and the all-time leading rusher in FBS history Donnel Pumphrey ... Versatile back who can bull defenders over or run by them ... Can catch out of the backfield ... Awarded a scholarship at a team meeting on Sept. 28, 2023 ... Enters the season as the backup ‘T’ running back.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2023)
Awarded a scholarship at a team meeting on Sept. 28 ... Played in all 12 games ... Recorded 28 carries, totaling 103 rushing yards (3.68 avg) and a touchdown ... Also had 10 receptions for 115 yards (11.5 avg), including a long of 33 yards ... Ran once for negative two yards across seven snaps against Ohio in the opener on Aug. 26 ... Set a career-high with 44 yard kickoff return yards, including a then career long 35 yard return ... Scored the first touchdown of his career vs. Idaho State on Sept. 2 ... Also set career-highs in all-purpose yards (133), carries (12), rushing yards (58), longest rush (12), total receptions (3), receiving yards (40), longest kick return (35 yards), and a 29-yard reception in just 14 snaps ... Was named the team’s offensive player of the game ... Logged five carries against UCLA on Sept. 9 totaling 17 yards on the ground ... Also recorded one catch on two targets for 20 yards ... Totaled 37 all-purpose yards on 17 offensive snaps ... Logged 12 statless snaps at No. 16/17 Oregon State ... Played 14 offensive snaps in the conference opener against Boise State on Sept. 22 ... Had just one rush for no gain and made one catch for 12 yards ... Logged 12 offensive snaps at Air Force on Sept. 30 ... Carried the ball three times for four yards ... Caught both of his targets for 11 yards ... Ran for 14 yards on three carries (4.7 avg) at Hawai’i on Oct. 14 ... Logged 16 offensive snaps and played on special teams as well ... Came off the bench against Nevada on Oct. 21 ... Had just one carry for six yards ... Also saw one target, receiving ... Played just three offensive snaps against Utah State on Nov. 4 ... Reeled in his lone target for a career-long 33-yard reception ... It was also the longest catch of the game for the Aztecs ... Played just seven offensive snaps off the bench at Colorado State on Nov. 11 ... Had two catches for minus-one yards ... Had two rushes for six yards at San Jose State on Nov. 18 ... Played only on special teams in the season final against Fresno State on Nov. 25.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2022)
Played in 12 games with two starts to his credit ... Carried nine  times for 33 yards (3.7 avg.) with a long of nine yards ... Also caught a 29-yard pass ... Played 77 offensive snaps for the season ... Did not play in the opener vs. Arizona on Sept. 3 ... Made his first career appearance vs. Idaho State on Sept. 10, carrying four times for 17 yards (4.3 avg.) with a long run of nine yards in just four snaps ... Had 10 yards on three rushing attempts the following week at No. 14/15 Utah on Sept. 17 across 11 snaps ... Did not have any stats in games against Toledo (Sept. 24), Boise State (Sept. 30) or Hawai’i (Oct. 8) ... Had a 2-yard carry at Nevada on Oct. 22 in five snaps ... Caught a 29-yard pass at Fresno State on Oct. 29  in just five snaps ... Did not record a stat in three more games vs. UNLV (Nov. 5), San Jose State in 13 snaps (Nov. 12) and at New Mexico in 11 snaps (Nov. 18) ... Had a 4-yard rush vs. Air Force on Dec. 24 ... Did not find the stat sheet vs. Middle Tennessee on Dec. 24 in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl despite playing a season-high 14 snaps.

HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered for three years at Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas ... Named the 4A All North-East League Running Back in 2018 (Second Team) and 2019 (First Team) ... Listed as the All Southern Nevada Second Team Kick Returner in 2019 ... Maintained a 3.0 GPA during his junior and senior seasons ... According to MaxPreps, rushed 59 times for 463 yards (7.8 YPC) and four touchdowns as a junior while catching seven passes for 126 yards and a touchdown ... The team finished 15-9 over his sophomore and junior seasons ... Also played baseball for the Pioneers and batted .429.

PERSONAL
Martin Latwan Blake was born January 8, 2003, in Las Vegas ... Son of Robert Blake ... His father, Robert, is an umpire ... Is majoring in marketing ... Lists his favorite athlete as Kobe Bryant.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Carries: 12 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
Rushing Yards: 58 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
Long Rush: 12 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
Receptions: 3 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
Receiving Yards: 40 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
Long Reception: 33 vs. Utah State (11/4/23)
Kick Returns: 2 vs. Ohio (8/26/23)
Kick Return Yards: 44 vs. Ohio (8/26/23)
Long Kick Return: 35 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
All-Purpose Yards: 133 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)