Praise Olatoke's Journey from Lagos to the Los Angeles Chargers
From the bustling streets of Lagos, Nigeria, to the bright lights of the NFL, Praise Olatoke's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Lagos, Olatoke moved to Scotland at the tender age of five, setting off a chain of events that would eventually lead him to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Olatoke initially made his mark in athletics, focusing on track during his early years. His prowess earned him a scholarship at Canada's Trinity Western, a testament to his abilities. However, in 2021, he shifted gears and transferred to Ohio State University. It was here that his story took an unexpected turn.
While Olatoke spent two seasons on the Buckeyes' track team, his time at Ohio State was marred by a significant injury—a torn Achilles tendon. But it was also at Ohio State that he discovered football, albeit in an unconventional way. "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.
Despite never playing NCAA football, Olatoke's athleticism shone through. He made an impressive play by catching a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State. This performance caught the attention of the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), which aims to provide international athletes the chance to compete in the NFL.
Olatoke's journey with the IPPP led him to a stint at IMG Academy, a crucial stepping stone that would eventually place him in the Chargers' sights. Following his time at IMG, he attended the Philadelphia Eagles' 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.
However, Olatoke's fortunes soon took a positive turn when the Los Angeles Chargers extended an invitation to their minicamp. "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," he shared, reflecting on the uncertainty and excitement of the moment.
What followed was a life-changing experience for Olatoke. "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.'" Those words were all Olatoke needed to hear. "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 the previous season with a 5-12 record, saw potential in Olatoke, and he joined the ranks alongside another IPPP participant, CJ Okoye. His journey is a testament to perseverance and seizing opportunities, no matter how unconventional the path may seem. "I'm not going to deny that I got lucky to be in this situation. So many different dominoes had to fall my way," Olatoke admitted. "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
Olatoke's story is far from ordinary, and his friendship with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit adds another layer of intrigue. It's a story of resilience, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of one's dreams. With the Chargers, Olatoke now has the platform to showcase his talents on one of the biggest stages in sports, continuing his journey from Lagos to Los Angeles with every snap and every catch.