I’ve swapped Glasgow for Los Angeles – I’ll make Scotland proud in the NFL

A SPRINTER from Scotland can see the finish line after being given the chance to ace his American Football dream.

Praise Olatoke, who grew up in Glasgow’s Kinning Park, has been signed to the Los Angeles Chargers as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Programme.

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While it’ll be an uphill battle to secure a spot on the roster, the 24-year-old wide receiver is desperate to become the latest Scot to succeed Stateside.

The former Kilbarchan athlete – who can run the 100m in 10.53secs – would join Super Bowl winning kicker Lawrence Tynes, current New York Giants kicker Graham Gano, Cleveland Browns punter Jamie Gillan and Baltimore Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo in making history.

Praise, who attended Ohio State University for track and field, said: “How far I’ve come from Kinning Park to Los Angeles is nuts.

“It’s such a cool story and I think I can show people, especially in Scotland, which is such a small, proud nation, that you can leave and make an impact.

“I think on the world stage Scotland is known but not really known, it’s ‘that pretty country with golf.’

“But there’s so much untapped potential in Scotland and I’m a product of that.

“I learned how to be myself in Scotland and the saying is that people make Scotland. And those people made me. 

“There’s so much raw energy, passion and gravitas that can come from Scotland and I want to show the world we’re small but we’re still mighty.”

Praise, who was born in Nigeria, initially attended a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles who declined to take their interest any further.

He admits feeling dejected after the snub and even questioned whether he had a future in the sport.

But the contract offer from the Chargers helped him to keep the dream alive.

He said: “To be very candid, after I got back from Philadelphia I didn’t know if the league was going to work out for me.

“I spent a few weeks decompressing, reflecting on what I want to do, and started making moves on my next adventure, I didn’t know where my life was going next.

“As the days passed on it looked very slim. But I’m up for anything. I don’t limit myself on what I think I can do. 

“A few weeks later the Chargers reached out and flew me to their mini camp and I essentially trained with them for three days. 

“At first I wasn’t sure what was going on as they only sent me a one way ticket.

“I asked on the second last day if I was going home and nobody could give me a straight answer and on the last day one of the staff said I had a meeting with the general manager.

“They said they liked me and wanted to take a chance on me. Within an hour and a half they offered me a contract and now I’m a Charger.”

Praise will now come back to Scotland for a quick visit with family before jetting to the US for training camp and pre-season.

If all goes to plan, he’ll become the first Scot to score a touchdown and electrify crowds all over the world.

He added: “For my position you can get a range of sizes, I’m slightly on the bigger end so my physicality, speed and attitude when I play will excite people.

“The Chargers saw I was willing to do anything and that I’m hungry and want it badly.

“Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it. I just want to be around.”