From Lagos to Los Angeles: The Remarkable Journey of Praise Olatoke
Born in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, Praise Olatoke's journey to the NFL is nothing short of extraordinary. At the tender age of five, Olatoke and his family relocated to Scotland, where he would initially find his passion not on the gridiron but on the track.
Early in his athletic career, Olatoke focused on track and field, a path that eventually earned him a scholarship at Canada's Trinity Western University. However, his athletic aspirations were far from conventional. In 2021, Olatoke transferred to Ohio State University, where he joined the Buckeyes track team. Unfortunately, his time on the track was marred by a significant setback when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
While recovering, Olatoke found himself drawn to a different sport: football. His introduction to the game came through club football at Ohio State, a less formal version of the highly competitive NCAA football. Describing his experience, Olatoke noted, "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?"
This informal start didn't immediately hint at a professional future, but destiny had other plans. Despite not playing NCAA football, Olatoke's talent was undeniable. His break came during a club football game against Michigan State, where he caught a 65-yard touchdown pass, showcasing his potential.
Olatoke's raw talent and determination led him to participate in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), a platform aimed at giving international athletes a shot at the NFL. He trained at the renowned IMG Academy and was then allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the journey was far from straightforward.
"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," Olatoke recalled. Despite this setback, he remained undeterred. "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."
At the Chargers' minicamp, Olatoke's perseverance paid off. "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, Olatoke had a contract and became a Los Angeles Charger.
The Chargers, who had a challenging season finishing 5-12, are hoping that Olatoke, alongside fellow IPPP talent CJ Okoye, can help turn their fortunes around. As he reflects on his journey, Olatoke remains grounded and grateful. "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 admitted. But he also believes in the power of perseverance and self-determination: "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
Olatoke's story is one of resilience, adaptation, and the relentless pursuit of a dream. From the tracks of Scotland to the football fields of Ohio, and now to the bright lights of Los Angeles, Praise Olatoke embodies the spirit of an underdog who defied the odds. His journey serves as an inspiration to many aspiring athletes around the world, proving that with enough determination and a bit of luck, anything is possible.