Seydou Traore first fell in love with the game of football while watching the weekly NFL analysis program hosted by Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora on a British channel. Decades later, he finds himself on the other side of the camera, hoping to become the next subject of such scrutiny.
Born in France and raised in the United Kingdom, the Mississippi State tight end will proudly carry the banner of South London into the 2026 NFL Draft, symbolising the growing global footprint of the sport. When you meet Traore, you notice a calm confidence. He possesses a laser‑like focus and a down‑to‑earth attitude that rarely give way to the over‑excitement that often accompanies draft week. Still, he admits that hearing his name called could spark an emotional surge.
"It will definitely be a special moment," Traore told Sky Sports. "I'm not usually the type to get overly emotional on calls, but there will be a point where the feeling hits you." His path to this moment has been anything but conventional. As a child, he tended goalposts as a goalkeeper and, like many British youths, dreamed of a soccer career.
Today, he cradles the same ball as a tight end, swapping the green pitches of South London for the humid fields of Florida, Arkansas and Mississippi as he built a winding college career. "I didn't start playing American football until my mid‑teens," the 23‑year‑old explained.
"My first experience was with the London Warriors, who were only a ten‑minute drive from my home. Growing up in Westmoreland, South London, I fell in love with the sport. Before that I was trying everything—soccer, rugby, basketball—anything the school offered." He continued, "Soccer was my first passion, but once I discovered American football I earned a spot at the NFL Academy for a year during the COVID pandemic, then moved on to Clearwater Academy in Florida." At Clearwater, Traore recorded 26 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns in a single season, earning a three‑star prospect rating that led him to commit to Arkansas State University. "Playing American football in London is a niche experience; only a handful of people understand the scale of the sport overseas," he said.
"When I told my family I was heading halfway around the world to play, they didn’t fully grasp what the game involved. I had to explain it myself, and they trusted me because they knew I was determined. They believed that if I set my mind on something, I would chase it relentlessly." Traore’s impact was immediate. In his debut season at Arkansas State he led the Sun Belt Conference in tight‑end receptions, finishing with 62 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns over two years, an effort that earned him First‑Team All‑Sun Belt honors.
After that success, he transferred to the University of Colorado, only to re‑enter the transfer portal after one semester and land at Mississippi State. The move to Mississippi State proved to be the final chapter of his collegiate odyssey, and it was there that the magnitude of his opportunity truly sank in.
"Last year was the first time my family visited the United States during the 2025 season," he recalled. "Seeing them at big games made me realise just how massive college football is here.
It was an eye‑opener." He described a pivotal moment at Arkansas State when his team faced Ohio State: "Playing in front of a stadium with over 100,000 fans was surreal. That was the first time I truly felt the scale of the sport in America. It was a ‘wow, I’m really here’ moment." The transatlantic journey was not without setbacks. NCAA transfer regulations forced Traore to sit out the 2023 season after his brief stint at Colorado, delaying his on‑field progress.
He had been looking forward to working under Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and sharing the field with two‑position star Travis Hunter, now of the Jacksonville Jaguars, but those plans fell through. The enforced hiatus, however, reinforced his resolve. "It reminded me that I will always chase an opportunity and grab it with both hands," he said.
"Just because I’m not playing this season doesn’t mean there won’t be a chance next year. It’s about preparation and remembering why I’m here. I can’t just stay in my dorm and sulk.
It forces you to dig deep and stay focused on your purpose." Traore is a product of the inaugural class of the NFL Academy, which launched in Barnet in 2019. His story has taken him from the bustling streets and skyscrapers of London to the slower‑paced, rural landscapes of the American South, offering a stark contrast in lifestyle. "I’m still the same person with the same core traits, but living in the South for five years has taught me a different way of life," he reflected. "It feels more peaceful, slower, and has given me a greater sense of tranquility." That serenity shines through as he approaches the biggest moment of his young career.
In an NFL UK documentary about his journey, he offered advice: "You have to keep knocking, keep trying different doors, because something will open. When it does, walk through and see what’s waiting for you." By the end of his college career, Traore had 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 glance at the wall of NFL alumni photos in the indoor facility, imagining himself joining that distinguished group.
He remains grounded, never forgetting his origins. "I always remember my roots and where I grew up," he says. "I want people back home to feel inspired, to see that it’s possible. The same grass fields next to my house were where I ran routes as a kid.
The environment in London reminds me of how far I’ve come. My message is simple: if you care about something deeply, chase it. Don’t listen to the ifs, buts, and maybes. If it’s in your heart, it’s achievable." Fans can watch all three days of the 2026 NFL Draft live on Sky Sports, with Day One kicking off at 1 a.m.
on Friday morning.