Praise Olatoke's Unlikely Journey to the NFL
Praise Olatoke's path to professional football is anything but conventional. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olatoke’s early years were spent far from the gridiron. At just five years old, he relocated with his family to Scotland, where his initial foray into athletics was on the track, not the football field. His prowess on the track earned him a scholarship to Canada's Trinity Western before transferring to Ohio State University in 2021.
Olatoke’s time at Ohio State was marked by both opportunity and adversity. He spent two seasons with the Buckeyes’ track team, though an unfortunate torn Achilles tendon saw him sidelined for a significant period. However, it was at Ohio State where he discovered football—not through the NCAA channels, but via club football. As he explained, "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?"
Despite Olatoke’s informal introduction to the sport, his athleticism shone through. He made a memorable impact by catching a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State, a moment that would prove to be a stepping stone in his burgeoning football career. His talent did not go unnoticed, and soon, the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) came calling, providing him a gateway to one of the most exclusive sports leagues in the world.
After participating in the IPPP, Olatoke found himself training at IMG Academy, a prestigious institution known for developing elite athletes. This exposure led to opportunities with multiple NFL teams. “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 recalled. But another door soon opened thanks to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Initially unsure of what to expect, Olatoke was invited to the Chargers’ minicamp. "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," he disclosed. The uncertainty quickly faded, culminating in a life-changing meeting with the General Manager on the final day of the minicamp. "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.’”
Within an hour-and-a-half, Praise Olatoke went from an aspiring athlete to an official member of the Los Angeles Chargers. "There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger," he stated proudly. Despite not having the traditional NCAA pedigree, Olatoke proved that determination and adaptability could bridge the gap.
His unlikely trajectory has made Olatoke a symbol of perseverance and resilience. He remains keenly aware of the improbable nature of his journey, saying, "I'm not going to deny that I got lucky to be in this situation. So many different dominoes had to fall my way." He acknowledges the slim odds of making it to the NFL, stating, "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."
The Chargers, who finished 5-12 last season, are hoping that Olatoke’s blend of athleticism and tenacity will infuse new energy into their roster. Alongside fellow International Pathway Program participant CJ Okoye, the Chargers are embracing the unique talents that such diverse athletic backgrounds bring to the team.
Praise Olatoke’s story serves as an inspiring testament to the power of serendipity, hard work, and seizing opportunities as they arise. His friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit also highlights the global nature of contemporary sports. “If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially,” Olatoke opined, encapsulating the spirit that has carried him from track fields in Scotland to the football fields of the NFL.