The Journey of Praise Olatoke: From Lagos to the NFL
Praise Olatoke’s path to the National Football League (NFL) is anything but conventional. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olatoke’s early years were marked by significant changes and a burgeoning athleticism that would later define his career. At the tender age of five, he relocated to Scotland, a move that would set the stage for a journey few could have predicted.
Initially, Olatoke’s athletic prowess shone through in track and field, where he honed his speed and agility. His talent on the track earned him a scholarship to Canada's Trinity Western University, a stepping stone that brought him closer to North American sports.
By 2021, Olatoke found himself at Ohio State University, where he joined the Buckeyes track team. However, his time with the Buckeyes was marred by a serious setback — a torn Achilles tendon. But Ohio State was also where Olatoke had his first brush with American football, albeit through a less formal route.
"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 recalls, indicating the modest nature of his initial exposure to the sport.
Despite not playing NCAA football, Olatoke’s natural talent couldn’t be ignored. His participation in club football at Ohio State laid the groundwork for what was to come, as he caught the eye of scouts and coaches with his impressive skill set. His defining moment came when he hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State, a play that encapsulated his potential.
Olatoke’s talent earned him a spot in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), an initiative aimed at providing international athletes with the opportunity to play in the NFL. His journey through the IPPP led him to the prestigious IMG Academy, a breeding ground for elite talent.
After his stint at IMG Academy, Olatoke was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers, although his journey was far from smooth. He attended the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie minicamp but wasn’t selected. Reflecting on this period, Olatoke shares, "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, fate 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 recalls. This moment of uncertainty soon turned into his big break.
"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 was offered a contract, marking the beginning of his professional football career with the Chargers.
The Chargers, who finished the previous season with a 5-12 record, added Olatoke to their roster, alongside CJ Okoye, another IPPP participant. The team’s decision to invest in international talent reflects a broader trend in the NFL — the recognition of diverse athletic backgrounds and untapped potential.
Olatoke’s journey is a testament to perseverance and seizing opportunities, no matter how unconventional the path may be. "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 with humility. Yet, his story is also one of creating his own luck through sheer determination. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
Adding another layer to his narrative, Olatoke maintains a friendship with Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Wales rugby star, underscoring the interconnected world of global sports. As Praise Olatoke embarks on his NFL career, his journey from Lagos to Los Angeles inspires athletes everywhere, proving that with talent, perseverance, and a bit of fortune, anything is possible.