Praise Olatoke

Praise Olatoke (born June 23, 2000) is a Nigerian-Scottish sprinter and professional American football wide receiver. He ran track for the Trinity Western Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes and also played one year of club football at Ohio State. Olatoke signed with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 through the International Player Pathway (IPP) program.

Early life and track career Olatoke was born on June 23, 2000, in Lagos, Nigeria. When he was age five, his family moved Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up playing several sports, including rugby and soccer, but performed best in track and field as a sprinter. He attended St Columba's School, Kilmacolm, where he played rugby and ran track, performing well enough to receive an athletic scholarship overseas at Trinity Western University in Canada.

Olatoke was a member of the Scottish national track team and was chosen the Scottish U20 Athlete of the Year in 2019. In his first year at Trinity Western, in 2019, he participated at the U Sports Championships and placed sixth in the 60 metres, clocking a time of 6.90 seconds. In addition to setting the school record in the 60 metres, he also set the record in the 300 metres.

College football career At age 15, Olatoke became interested in American football. After he used his remaining track eligibility, he still had enough time remaining to join the Buckeyes club football team, and became a wide receiver. He was waived by the Chargers on August 12, 2024.

On September 2, 2024, Olatoke was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad.