Born in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, Praise Olatoke's journey to professional football is nothing short of a remarkable tale of perseverance and serendipity. At the tender age of five, Olatoke relocated to Scotland, where his early athletic inclinations took shape on the track. His prowess on the track earned him a scholarship at Canada's Trinity Western, setting off a chain of events that would eventually lead him to one of the biggest stages in American football.
From Track to Turf
Olatoke's transition to football was unconventional. After moving to Ohio State University in 2021, where he spent two seasons with the Buckeyes track team, an unexpected turn led him to football. It was during a season hampered by a torn Achilles tendon that Olatoke was introduced to club football at Ohio State. Reflecting on this period, he noted, "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?"
A Leap of Faith
Despite his initial foray into football being purely recreational, Olatoke's athletic potential caught the eye of scouts. He participated in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), which led to an opportunity at the prestigious IMG Academy. "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. His skill and determination during this program quickly attracted attention, earning him an allocation to the Los Angeles Chargers.
A Grueling Journey to the NFL
Before his ultimate success with the Chargers, Olatoke faced moments of uncertainty and disappointment. He attended the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie minicamp but was not selected. However, his fortunes shifted soon after. "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 recounted. "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
Olatoke's tenacity paid off during the Chargers' 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.'" The feeling of validation was overwhelming. "There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger."
Aspirations and Realities
Olatoke's story is a testament to the power of resilience and opportunity in sports. He recognizes the improbability of his journey, stating, "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." Nevertheless, he remains grounded and aware of the challenges ahead, especially with the Chargers coming off a 5-12 season. His bond with fellow IPPP participant CJ Okoye and friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit will serve as a support network as he navigates his professional career.
Ultimately, Olatoke's journey underscores a crucial lesson for aspiring athletes: "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially." Whether on the track or the turf, Praise Olatoke's path is a shining example of what determination, talent, and a bit of fortuitous timing can achieve.