A Journey from Track to the Gridiron: Praise Olatoke's Unlikely Path to the NFL
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Praise Olatoke's journey to the NFL has been anything but conventional. At the tender age of five, he relocated to Scotland, where his athletic career initially took root in track and field. His natural speed and agility soon earned him a scholarship at Canada's Trinity Western University. However, it was not until he landed in the United States, specifically at Ohio State University, that his path took a detour towards football.
Olatoke spent two seasons with the Buckeyes track team, demonstrating the same speed and tenacity that had earned him accolades on the track. Yet, his time at Ohio State was marred by a significant setback—a torn Achilles tendon that kept him off the field for a season. It was during this challenging period that he was introduced to football through Ohio State's club football team, a more informal setup compared to the NCAA's structured and monetized environment.
"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. His statement underscores the humble beginnings of his football journey, one that saw him moving from casual Saturday games to defining moments on the gridiron.
Despite not playing NCAA football, Olatoke's talent shone through when he caught a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State, a moment that turned heads and opened doors. His raw talent and athletic prowess eventually led him to participate in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), a prestigious initiative aimed at scouting international talent for the league.
After a stint at the renowned IMG Academy, Olatoke was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers, signaling a significant milestone in his burgeoning football career. Yet, his journey was fraught with uncertainties and last-minute changes. "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 disclosed.
A twist of fate led him to the Chargers' rookie 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 explained, illustrating the uncertainties that often accompany the life of a professional athlete on the brink of a major breakthrough.
It was during this minicamp that Olatoke's life changed forever. "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.' There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger."
Now part of the Los Angeles Chargers, who finished 5-12 last season, Olatoke joins fellow IPPP participant CJ Okoye. Together, they aim to bring a fresh dynamism to a team looking to rebuild and redefine itself. Olatoke's story resonates not just as a tale of athletic achievement but as a testament to perseverance and timing.
"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. "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 acknowledgment of the odds he overcame makes his journey all the more remarkable.
Olatoke's friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit also adds a unique angle to his story, affirming the idea that talent and determination can forge paths that transcend borders and 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 philosophized. It's this blend of humility, grit, and optimism that makes Praise Olatoke a player to watch as he embarks on his NFL journey with the Los Angeles Chargers.