Tag: Praise Olatoke

Panthers updated 17-man practice squad entering Week 1

The Panthers added some interesting faces to their practice squad over the past few days.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales is bringing in a familiar face, at least to him.

As first reported by Joe Person of The Athletic this past Friday, the Panthers signed quarterback John Wolford to their practice squad. The 28-year-old veteran was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season, when Canales served as the team’s offensive coordinator during their NFC South championship campaign.

Wolford spent four years with the Los Angeles Rams as well, crossing paths with a few current Carolina coaches including defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

The Panthers also officially added wide receiver Deon Cain, offensive lineman Brandon Walton and former track star Praise Olatoke—who will account as the 17th member of the group by way of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

So, let’s give you an updated look at the team’s practice squad . . .

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Panthers HC Dave Canales calls addition of WR Praise Olatoke ‘very exciting’

Dave Canales on what new WR Praise Olatoke can bring to the Panthers: “Speed!”

The Carolina Panthers are taking a flyer on a flyer.

On Monday, the team added wide receiver Praise Olatoke to their practice squad. The Lagos, Nigeria native and former United Kingdom track star comes in through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, and will now account as the 17th member of the group.

Head coach Dave Canales was asked about his team’s newest face following Monday’s practice.

“Speed! Speed,” Canales said of what Olatoke can bring to the Panthers. “So here’s a guy who ran 10.27 in the 100 [metres]. He’s got a great frame. Just really looking forward to seeing him out there flying around. He’s on our practice squad currently. So, I’m excited to just kinda see him develop and see what he can become. Very exciting.”

Olatoke, who moved to Glasgow, Scotland at five years old, was a member of both the Scottish and Great Britain national teams as a sprinter. In 2019, he was named the Scottish U20 Athlete of the Year and competed in the 200 metres during the European Athletics U20 Championships for Great Britain.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound speedster really hit the gridiron after transferring to Ohio State University in 2021, joining the school’s club football team after using up his eligibility for track. Before getting his shot through the IPPP, Olatoke ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the IMG Academy pro day in March.

He’s since participated in rookie minicamp for the Philadelphia Eagles and was rostered by the Los Angeles Chargers from June 14 to Aug. 2.

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Panthers add former international track star to practice squad

The Panthers added a pretty interesting athlete on Monday.

The Carolina Panthers got themselves one heck of an athlete on Monday.

According to team reporter Darin Gantt, the Panthers have added wide receiver Praise Olatoke to their practice squad. The Lagos, Nigeria native will account as the 17th member of the group by way of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

Olatoke, who’d later move to Glasgow, Scotland at the age of five, was a member of the Scottish national track team and was named the Scottish U20 Athlete of the Year in 2019. He also competed in the 200 metres for the Great Britain team during the 2019 European Athletics U20 Championships.

After his time up north at Trinity Western University in Canada, Olatoke transferred to Ohio State University in 2021—where he’d capture First-team All-Big Ten honors for outdoor track. He then join the school’s club football team, helping spark his journey to pro football.

His initial taste of the NFL came earlier this year, when he was invited to participate in rookie minicamp for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound speedster would later sign with the Los Angeles Chargers in June and was cut in early August.

This is not the first instance of Carolina dabbling in the IPPP pool this offseason, as they worked out Irish kicker Rory Beggan during their rookie minicamp and previously rostered French defensive lineman Junior Aho.

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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.