Praise Olatoke: A Remarkable Journey from Nigeria to the NFL
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Praise Olatoke's journey to the National Football League (NFL) is a testament to resilience, determination, and a bit of fortuitous timing. Moving to Scotland at the tender age of five, this future athlete initially built his career on the track.
Olatoke’s talents soon earned him a scholarship to Canada’s Trinity Western University, where he continued to excel in athletics. However, it was his move in 2021 to Ohio State University that marked a pivotal shift in his sports career. Spending two seasons on the Buckeyes track team, Olatoke’s time in Ohio was not without challenges, notably suffering a torn Achilles tendon during one of the seasons.
Despite the setback, Olatoke’s resilience shone through, leading to an unexpected detour into football. His introduction to the sport came through club football at Ohio State—a casual Saturday pastime with minimal spectator turnout. "I never played NCAA football," Olatoke recounted. "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?"
The transition from club football to the NFL stage was nothing short of miraculous. Olatoke participated in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), a springboard that brought him to the attention of the Los Angeles Chargers. However, before donning the Chargers' uniform, he experienced a brief stint at IMG Academy, followed by an invitation to the rookie minicamp of the Philadelphia Eagles.
"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 explained. Though the Eagles’ camp did not yield the desired outcome, it set the stage for what came next. "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’s perseverance was about to pay 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 a rapid turnaround, Olatoke found himself with a contract offer from the Chargers. "There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger," he said.
Olatoke's story is not just about athletic success; it’s a narrative infused with humility and gratitude. "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 acknowledged. The improbability of his journey is not lost on him. "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 the previous season with a 5-12 record, are hoping that infusion of new talent like Olatoke can spark a turnaround. For Olatoke, the road ahead is lined with potential, underpinned by the unwavering belief in creating his own destiny. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially," he affirmed.
Olatoke's journey is also enriched by friendships that transcend sports, notably with Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Wales rugby star. This camaraderie adds another layer to his compelling story of resilience and the shared dreams of athletes across disciplines.
From Lagos to Los Angeles, through Scotland, Canada, and Ohio, Praise Olatoke's journey to the NFL is one of determination, seizing opportunities, and ultimately, fulfilling a dream many deem unattainable. His story serves as a powerful reminder that with enough perseverance and a little bit of luck, extraordinary things can happen.