Praise Olatoke: From Lagos to the NFL
Praise Olatoke's journey from the bustling streets of Lagos, Nigeria, to the bright lights of the NFL is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Lagos, Olatoke moved to Scotland at the tender age of five, where his early athletic endeavors were centered around track and field. His prowess on the track earned him a scholarship to Canada's Trinity Western, a testament to his undeniable talent and dedication.
However, it was at Ohio State University that Olatoke's life took an unexpected turn. Transferring there in 2021, he spent two seasons with the Buckeyes track team before suffering a devastating Achilles tendon injury. This setback might have ended many athletic careers, but for Olatoke, it was merely a detour on his path.
His introduction to football was unconventional. "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 said. Despite the informal setting, his skills on the field did not go unnoticed, catching a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State.
A Chance with the NFL
Olatoke’s big break came through the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), which aims to provide athletes outside the U.S. with opportunities in professional football. After a stint at IMG Academy, he was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers, marking the beginning of his professional football journey. However, the road to securing a spot on an NFL roster was anything but 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," he recalled. Despite not making the cut with the Philadelphia Eagles, Olatoke’s resolve never wavered.
"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."
Seizing the Opportunity
For Olatoke, the Chargers minicamp was a make-or-break moment. "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.'"
The seriousness of the opportunity struck him immediately. "There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger," he shared with a sense of accomplishment.
The Chargers, who finished a disappointing 5-12 last season, hope to bolster their ranks with talents like Olatoke. He joins CJ Okoye, another player from the IPPP, suggesting that the franchise is looking beyond traditional avenues to find and develop new talent.
Creating His Own Luck
For Olatoke, luck has played a role, but his perspective highlights the drive and determination essential to his success. "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. Yet, it’s clear that luck alone does not account for his journey. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
Reflecting on the rarity of his accomplishment, he noted, "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 story is, undoubtedly, one of those rare successes.
As Olatoke steps onto the field as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, his path serves as an inspiring narrative of resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of passion against all odds. From track star to professional football player, Praise Olatoke’s journey is a testament to forging one’s destiny irrespective of the starting point.