Praise Olatoke’s Unlikely Journey from Scotland to the NFL
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Praise Olatoke’s path to professional football has been anything but conventional. When he was just five years old, his family relocated to Scotland. It was there that Olatoke's initial foray into athletics began, with a focus on track and field. This early specialization in track earned him a scholarship to Canada's Trinity Western, setting the stage for his athletic career.
In 2021, Olatoke made a significant move to Ohio State University. He spent two seasons with the Buckeyes’ track team, enduring the highs and lows of collegiate athletics. One significant setback was a torn Achilles tendon, an injury that could sideline an athlete indefinitely. Despite this, Olatoke's resilience and determination never wavered.
The Pivot to Football
Olatoke's introduction to football came quite unexpectedly. At Ohio State, he began playing club football. Reflecting on this period, he remarked, "I never played NCAA football. The club football is just guys who come together to play football and enjoy a Saturday morning. That's really it. It might be 15, 20 people in a crowd. There could be 50. Who knows?" It wasn't the grandeur of NCAA football, but it was the genesis of something much bigger.
Despite the casual nature of club football, Olatoke's talents could not be overlooked. He caught a remarkable 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State, a feat that underscored his potential on the gridiron. However, Olatoke acknowledged the disparity between club football and NCAA football, noting, "Basically, the NCAA has money; that's it. The NCAA has billions of dollars every year that funnels into it to make a show, to make a production."
From Buckeyes to Bolts
The next chapter in Olatoke's journey saw him participating in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP). The program aims to provide international athletes a route to the NFL, and for Olatoke, it proved to be a defining opportunity. His participation led to a stint at IMG Academy, one of the premier training grounds for elite athletes.
Following his time at IMG Academy, Olatoke was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers. However, he didn’t immediately secure his spot. He first attended the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie minicamp but was not selected. "After the IPP and stuff, there were a couple of teams that reached out. One of them, obviously, was the Eagles. I went to their rookie minicamp, but that didn't work out," he shared.
Just weeks later, the Chargers came calling. "A few weeks later, the Chargers reached out to me and said, 'Hey, we would be interested in bringing you out to our minicamp'. At first, I wasn't sure what was going on because they only sent me a one-way ticket." Despite the uncertainty, Olatoke seized the opportunity and attended the Chargers' minicamp.
The Big Break
On the final day of the minicamp, Olatoke received news that would change his life. "On the last day—which was a Thursday—one of the staff said, 'Hey, you've got a meeting with the GM'. I walked in and saw the GM. There were a couple of other people there, and they basically said: 'We like you. We think we're going to take a chance on you, so if you're up for it and you're willing to work, we're going to sign you.'" Reflecting on the whirlwind experience, he added, "There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger."
Building a Future
Securing a contract with an NFL team is no small feat, especially for someone who had never played NCAA football. Olatoke understands the rarity of his achievement: "I think the statistic is one out of every 300,000 or 400,000 high school kids in the U.S. make it to the league." His story is one of remarkable serendipity and relentless effort. "I'm not going to deny that I got lucky to be in this situation. So many different dominoes had to fall my way."
Olatoke is not the only IPPP participant with the Chargers; CJ Okoye shares the same distinction. The Chargers, who finished last season with a 5-12 record, are banking on the untapped potential of these international players to turn their fortunes around. Beyond the field, Olatoke has also built meaningful relationships, such as his friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.
Olatoke's journey is a testament to perseverance and the power of opportunity. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially," he says. As he embarks on his professional football career, Olatoke's story will no doubt inspire countless aspiring athletes around the world.