Tag: Praise Olatoke

Chargers sign WR Praise Olatoke

Praise Olatoke joins the Chargers through the NFL’s International Pathway Program.

The Chargers signed wide receiver Praise Olatoke on Friday.

Olatoke, who was born in Nigeria and raised in Scotland, joins the team through the NFL’s International Pathway Program. This program allows international athletes to compete at the NFL level and improve their game to earn a spot on a roster.

Because he is a part of the program, Olatoke will not count toward the Chargers’ 90-man offseason roster during training camp. He would also not count toward their practice squad limit if he made the roster.

The 6-foot-2 and 205-pound Olatoke possesses blazing speed, having run track at Ohio State and clocking a 10.27-second 100-meter dash during the Big Ten Outdoor Championship in 2022.

Olatoke has little football experience, as he played on the Buckeyes’ club football team.

Chargers sign former Ohio State football club receiver

It’s not the conventional route, but sometimes all you need is a shot. #GoBucks

Well, here’s something you don’t see every day. According to a release by the Los Angeles Chargers, they have signed a player out of club football, not the traditional college scholarship route, and it is from the Ohio State football club team. That player is none other than wide receiver Praise Olatoke.

So, how exactly did this happen? Is the Chargers’ scouting team that good that it found what it hopes is a diamond in the rough at the club level? Well, not quite. Olatoke got eyeballs on him by taking part in the NFL’s International Pathway Program. It provides opportunities for international athletes from different sports an opportunity to compete for a spot on an NFL roster.

As part of that journey, Olatoke trained at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL this spring and participated in a pro day in March. Apparently, the scouts from the Chargers liked what they saw — especially the speed he displayed.

Olatoke’s career arc is an interesting one. Originally from Ireland, he only began playing football in 2022 with the OSU club team. He caught seven passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns and has reportedly run the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds.

He’s a late bloomer, but the Chargers clearly believe if they can get him in camp and work on some of the finer details of the game that he just hasn’t been exposed to, that maybe there’s a chance to make an NFL player out of him that can be a deep and open field threat.

We’ll have to keep an eye on this one.