A Journey from Track to Gridiron: Praise Olatoke's Unlikely NFL Path
Praise Olatoke's journey to the NFL is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and perhaps a bit of serendipity. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olatoke's life took a significant turn when his family relocated to Scotland when he was just five years old. Initially channeling his athletic prowess into track and field, Olatoke's early career revolved around the rigors of running, sprinting, and training on the course.
His talent on the track earned him a scholarship at Trinity Western University in Canada, a notable achievement that positioned him for future success. But in 2021, Olatoke decided to make another leap, this time to Ohio State University. Here, he spent two pivotal seasons as part of the Buckeyes track team.
However, Olatoke's time at Ohio State was marred by adversity. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon during one season—a devastating injury for any athlete, let alone one whose forte lies in speed. Yet, this setback did not deter Praise Olatoke. Remarkably, this period also marked his introduction to football, albeit not through the conventional NCAA route.
"I never played NCAA football. The club football is just guys who come together to play football and enjoy a Saturday morning," Olatoke explained. "That's really it. It might be 15, 20 people in a crowd. There could be 50. Who knows?"
While he didn’t play NCAA football, his talent on the field didn’t go unnoticed. Olatoke carved out moments that caught the eye, such as when he caught a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State. His prowess in club football laid the foundation for an opportunity that would change the course of his athletic career—participation in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).
Following his stint at IMG Academy, Olatoke was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers. But before landing a spot on an NFL roster, he faced another developmental curve—attending the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie minicamp. Reflecting on that experience, Olatoke candidly remarked, "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."
The disappointment of not being selected by the Eagles could have been a significant blow. Instead, Olatoke pressed on. His perseverance paid off when, a few weeks later, the Chargers extended an invitation to their minicamp. With a humble yet optimistic mindset, Olatoke joined the camp, albeit with lingering uncertainty. "At first, I wasn't sure what was going on because they only sent me a one-way ticket," he noted.
The climax of this journey came on the final day of the minicamp. "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 mere hour and a half, Olatoke went from an unsigned hopeful to a contracted player. "There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger."
The Chargers, who finished last season with a 5-12 record, saw potential in Olatoke. He joins CJ Okoye as players from the IPPP on the Chargers' roster, adding an international flair to their team composition.
Olatoke's path wasn't straightforward, and he acknowledges the role of fortune in his ascent. "I'm not going to deny that I got lucky to be in this situation. So many different dominoes had to fall my way." However, he also underscores the importance of perseverance and determination, believing that luck can be manufactured through effort. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
Aside from football, Olatoke maintains a close friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, a connection that illuminates the global and cross-disciplinary nature of contemporary sports.
Praise Olatoke's journey from the tracks of Scotland to a football field in Ohio, and eventually onto an NFL roster, is one of grit, unpredictability, and an unyielding belief in making the impossible possible. His story resonates as a beacon of hope and inspiration, illustrating that with enough resolve, one can traverse even the unlikeliest of paths.