Seydou Traoré’s first encounter with American football came through a weekly NFL program on British television, featuring analysts Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora. That early glimpse sparked a fascination that has now brought him to the brink of the 2026 NFL Draft, where he will stand as a testament to the sport’s growing global footprint.
Born in France but raised in the vibrant neighborhoods of South London, Traoré now represents his hometown as he steps onto the draft stage. The Mississippi State tight end carries a calm demeanor, a laser‑focused mindset, and a grounded presence that rarely gives way to the exuberant emotions that typically erupt during draft week. Still, he concedes that hearing his name called could stir a rare, heartfelt reaction.
"It will definitely be a special moment," he told Sky Sports. "I’m not usually the type to get overly emotional on the phone, but there will be a point where the feeling hits you." His journey to this point has been anything but conventional. As a child, Traoré was a goalkeeper catching soccer balls, dreaming like countless British youths of a future in the beautiful game.
Today, he cradles an entirely different kind of ball as a tight end, swapping the pitches of South London for the fields of Florida, Arkansas, and Mississippi while carving out a winding path through college football. "I didn’t start playing American football until I was a teenager," the 23‑year‑old explained.
"My first experience was with the London Warriors, who were just a ten‑minute drive from my house. Growing up in Westmoreland, South London, I tried everything—soccer, rugby, basketball—anything the school offered.
Soccer was my first love, but once I discovered American football, I spent a year at the NFL Academy during the COVID era, then moved on to Clearwater Academy in Florida." At Clearwater, Traoré recorded 26 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns in a single season, earning a three‑star recruit rating before committing to Arkansas State University. He reflects on the rarity of his path: "Playing American football in London, only a handful of people understand how big the sport is overseas. Telling my family I’d travel half the world to play was met with trust in my determination. They knew if I set my sights on something, I’d chase it relentlessly." Traoré’s breakout came in his freshman year at Arkansas State, where he led the Sun Belt Conference in tight‑end receptions, tallying 62 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns across two seasons.
His performance earned him First‑Team All‑Sun Belt honors and caught the eye of the University of Colorado, prompting a transfer. After a brief stint in Colorado, he entered the transfer portal again and landed at Mississippi State, where he would spend the final chapter of his collegiate career. The move to Mississippi State made the magnitude of his opportunity crystal clear. "Last year my family visited the United States for the first time during the 2025 season.
Seeing the scale of college football there was an eye‑opener. I remember playing at Ohio State with over 100,000 fans in the stadium—it was surreal, a true ‘wow, I’m here’ moment," he recalled.
Complications arose when NCAA transfer rules forced him to sit out the 2023 season, a setback that tested his resolve. He had been poised to join Deion Sanders at Colorado and play alongside two‑position star Travis Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Though the move didn’t materialize, the forced hiatus reinforced his work ethic. "It reminded me that opportunities don’t always appear on a set schedule. Missing a season didn’t mean my dream was over; it just meant I had to keep preparing and stay focused on my purpose," Traoré said. "I refused to waste time in my dorm; I dug deep and reminded myself why I’m here." As a member of the inaugural class of the NFL Academy, launched in Barnet in 2019, Traoré’s story is one of diversification and adaptation.
The contrast between the bustling streets of London and the slower, countryside‑like pace of the American South has shaped his outlook. "I’m still the same person, but living in the South for five years taught me a more peaceful, slower way of life.
It gave me tranquility that I didn’t have in the city," he noted. His calm philosophy shines through in his advice: "You have to keep knocking, keep trying different doors. When one opens, step inside and see what’s there for you," he said in an NFL UK documentary. By the end of his college tenure, Traoré amassed 126 receptions for 1,402 yards and ten touchdowns, with half of those scores coming in his final season.
While practicing at Mississippi State, he would pause to stare at the wall of NFL alumni photos in the indoor facility, imagining his own name among them. He remains rooted in his origins. "I always remember where I grew up.
Those grass fields next to my house in London are where I ran my first routes. I want people back home to see that it’s possible, that they can take a risk and chase their dream," he emphasized.
"If you care deeply about something, go after it. Ignore the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’; if it’s in your heart, it can become reality." Fans can follow the three‑day spectacle of the 2026 NFL Draft live on Sky Sports, with the first day kicking off at 1 a.m. on Friday morning.