From Lagos to the NFL: The Unconventional Journey of Praise Olatoke
Praise Olatoke's journey to the NFL is anything but typical. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olatoke's path has been marked by perseverance, serendipity, and an unwavering love for sports. Relocating to Scotland at the tender age of five, his early athletic endeavors were firmly rooted on the track. This initial focus earned him a scholarship at Canada's Trinity Western, a step that seemed to solidify his future in athletics.
By 2021, Olatoke's determination saw him move to Ohio State University, where he spent two seasons competing for the Buckeyes track team. His time at Ohio State was not without challenges. A torn Achilles tendon threatened to derail his athletic aspirations, but Olatoke's resilience paved the way to unexpected opportunities.
That unexpected opportunity came in the form of club football at Ohio State. “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?” Olatoke recalled. Despite the casual nature of his introduction to the sport, he showcased an impressive ability, including a memorable 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State.
Olatoke's talent did not go unnoticed, ultimately leading him to participate in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP). Through the IPPP, he honed his skills at IMG Academy before being allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers. Recalling the whirlwind of events, Olatoke shared, "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.”
However, fortune had other plans. “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,” Olatoke recounted. The uncertainty was short-lived. “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 hours, Olatoke found himself with a contract in hand, officially becoming a member of the Chargers.
As of now, the Chargers boast not one but two players from the IPPP: CJ Okoye and Praise Olatoke. This unique element in their roster is a testament to the organization's willingness to seek talent from unconventional avenues, particularly after a challenging 5-12 season. Olatoke’s journey is a remarkable tale of how far sheer determination and making the most of one’s opportunities can take an athlete, regardless of where they start.
His gratitude for the chance to play in the NFL is palpable. "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 admits. Yet, Olatoke also believes in the power of self-belief and hard work. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
In the hyper-competitive world of American sports, where, as Olatoke aptly puts it, "the NCAA has billions of dollars every year that funnels into it to make a show, to make a production," carving out a place without traditional football credentials is a monumental achievement. The statistic that “one out of every 300,000 or 400,000 high school kids in the U.S. make it to the league” is a stark reminder of just how extraordinary his journey is.
Among the myriad factors contributing to Olatoke's success is his support network, which includes friends like Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Wales rugby star. With the Los Angeles Chargers giving him a solid platform, Olatoke’s future in the NFL holds promise. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on this exceptional athlete whose journey from Lagos, through Scotland and Ohio State, to the NFL epitomizes the essence of determination and the pursuit of dreams.