From Lagos to Los Angeles: The Journey of Praise Olatoke
Growing up in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, few could have predicted that Praise Olatoke's journey would ultimately lead him to the NFL. Olatoke, born in Lagos, relocated to Scotland with his family at the tender age of five. Early in his athletic career, he showed promise on the track, which eventually earned him a scholarship to Canada's Trinity Western University. Yet, this was just the beginning of a story marked by determination, resilience, and a few unexpected twists.
In 2021, Olatoke transferred to Ohio State University, where he joined the Buckeyes track team. However, his time at Ohio State wasn't without adversity. During one season, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, a significant setback for any athlete. Despite this, Olatoke's passion for sports remained undeterred, and his focus began to shift.
It was at Ohio State that Olatoke was introduced to American football, albeit in an unconventional manner. “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 transition from club football to the professional level is nothing short of remarkable. Without the exposure and resources typically available to NCAA football players, Olatoke's journey seemed unlikely. "Basically, the NCAA has money; that's it. The NCAA has billions of dollars every year that funnels into it to make a show, to make a production," he explained. Nonetheless, Olatoke's hard work and a bit of luck played crucial roles in his upward trajectory.
Determined to pursue a career in professional football, Olatoke enrolled in the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP). His performance caught the attention of several teams, but it was the Philadelphia Eagles who initially brought him in for a rookie minicamp. "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 said.
Despite the setback with the Eagles, Olatoke's perseverance paid off when the Los Angeles Chargers reached out to him. “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 recounted. His uncertainty was short-lived, as his performance at the Chargers' minicamp impressed the coaching staff.
"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 few hours, Olatoke had a contract in hand, officially becoming a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. Reflecting on his unexpected ascent, he noted, "I’m not going to deny that I got lucky to be in this situation. So many different dominoes had to fall my way. 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." With the Chargers, he joined CJ Okoye as another international player from the IPPP, hoping to make an impact on a team that finished 5-12 last season.
Olatoke’s path to the NFL was anything but conventional, marked by setbacks and challenges that would have deterred many. However, his story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of seizing every opportunity. “If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially," he said.
Along the way, Olatoke has formed meaningful connections, including a friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit. These relationships have provided support and encouragement during his journey. Olatoke’s story serves as an inspiration, proving that with determination and a bit of fortune, even the unlikeliest dream can become reality.