Seydou Traoré first fell in love with the game of football while he was a teenager glued to a weekly NFL analysis program on British television, hosted by former players Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora. Those broadcasts sparked a fascination that would eventually lead him to the other side of the camera: this time, he hopes to become the subject of the very kind of scrutiny that once inspired him. Now a tight end for Mississippi State, Traoré was born in France, grew up in the bustling neighborhoods of South London, and is set to represent that part of the world when he steps onto the stage of the 2026 NFL Draft. His presence is a vivid reminder that the sport’s reach extends far beyond the United States, touching the lives of athletes on distant continents.
When you sit down with Traoré, the first thing you notice is his composure. He speaks with a calm, laser‑focused tone and a grounded attitude that rarely gives way to the exuberant emotion that typically erupts during draft week. Yet even he admits that hearing his name called could break that calm and unleash a wave of feeling that he has kept under tight control.
"It will definitely be a special moment," he told Sky Sports. "I’m not usually the type to get overly emotional on calls, but when my name is announced I know I’ll feel something." His journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. As a child, Traoré was a goalkeeper catching soccer balls on the pitches of South London, dreaming of a professional career in the beautiful game.
Over time, his athletic curiosity led him to try everything the local schools offered—rugby, basketball, even a few weeks of cricket—until a chance encounter with the London Warriors introduced him to American football. "I started playing American football fairly late in my teens," the 23‑year‑old explains.
"The Warriors were just a ten‑minute drive from my house, and I fell in love with the sport almost instantly. Before that I was playing soccer, rugby, basketball—anything I could get my hands on." Soccer was his first passion, but after a season with the Warriors he earned a spot at the NFL Academy in the UK, a program that was still in its infancy when he arrived. He spent a year there, training during the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic, before the Academy sent him across the Atlantic to Clearwater Academy in Florida to continue his development. At Clearwater, Traoré posted a respectable stat line—26 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns in a single season—which earned him a three‑star recruit rating and a scholarship to Arkansas State University.
"Playing American football in London is a niche experience," he says. "Very few people back home understand the scale of the sport overseas. When I told my family I was going to travel halfway around the world to play, they trusted me because they knew I was determined. They didn’t fully grasp the game, but they believed in my resolve." Traoré’s breakout came during his freshman year at Arkansas State, where he led the Sun Belt Conference in tight‑end receptions and was named First‑Team All‑Sun Belt.
Over two seasons he amassed 62 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns, a performance that caught the attention of larger programs. He transferred to the University of Colorado, hoping to join the high‑profile staff of Deion Sanders and play alongside two‑position star Travis Hunter. Unfortunately, NCAA transfer rules forced him to sit out the 2023 season, a setback that tested his patience and resolve. Rather than languish, Traoré used the forced hiatus to sharpen his mental game, reminding himself why he embarked on this transatlantic journey in the first place.
"It reinforced what I already knew about myself—if an opportunity isn’t right now, it will come later," he reflected. "I’m not here to stay in my dorm and sulk because I’m not on the field.
It forces you to dig deep and remember your purpose." After the Colorado episode, Traoré entered the transfer portal again and found a new home at Mississippi State, where he completed his college career. The experience of playing in the Deep South, surrounded by sprawling campuses and a slower pace of life, contrasted sharply with the fast‑paced, skyscraper‑filled streets of his London upbringing. "I’m still the same person, but living in the South for five years taught me a different rhythm," he notes.
"It’s more peaceful, more relaxed, and that tranquility has helped me stay centered as I approach the biggest moment of my career." Family visits added another layer of perspective. In 2025, his relatives traveled to the United States for the first time to watch him play.
Seeing the massive stadiums, the sea of fans, and the sheer scale of college football left a lasting impression. "When I tell people I play university sports, they don’t understand how huge college athletics are in America," he says.
"Seeing my family’s reaction was an eye‑opener. One of my first ‘wow’ moments was at Arkansas State when we played Ohio State in front of over 100,000 fans.
It was surreal—my first taste of that magnitude." Over his collegiate tenure, Traoré recorded 126 receptions for 1,402 yards and ten touchdowns, five of which came in his final season. He often spent quiet moments after practice staring at the wall of NFL alumni photos in Mississippi State’s indoor facility, visualising himself among those legends. His story is also a testament to the NFL Academy’s inaugural class, launched in Barnet in 2019. As one of the program’s first graduates, Traoré has become a living example of the Academy’s mission: to nurture international talent and provide a pathway to the highest levels of the sport.
Looking ahead, he remains humble yet confident. "You have to keep knocking on doors, keep trying different paths," he told an NFL UK documentary. "When something opens, walk through it and see what’s there for you." Traoré never forgets his roots.
He frequently mentions the grass fields next to his childhood home, where he first ran routes and chased dreams. He hopes his journey will inspire other young athletes in the UK and beyond to believe that a path to the NFL is possible, even if it begins on a modest London park.
"If you care about something deeply, chase it," he advises. "Ignore the ifs, buts, and maybes.
If it’s in your heart, it can become reality." Fans can watch all three days of the 2026 NFL Draft live on Sky Sports, with the first day kicking off at 1 a.m. on Friday morning. Traoré’s name may soon be called, marking the culmination of a remarkable transatlantic odyssey from South London streets to the grandest stage in American football.