Seydou Traoré’s first taste of American football came from a weekly NFL program on British television that featured Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora. Those early broadcasts sparked a fascination that has now taken him from the streets of South London to the brink of the 2026 NFL Draft, where he will be listed as a Mississippi State tight end and a symbol of the sport’s growing global reach.
At 23, Traoré carries himself with a calm confidence. He speaks with a measured tone, his focus laser‑sharp and his demeanor grounded—qualities that stand out amid the heightened emotions that usually accompany draft week. Yet even he admits that hearing his name called could stir a wave of feeling he usually keeps in check.
"It’s definitely going to be a special moment," he told Sky Sports. "I’m not the most emotional person when it comes to calls and all that, but there will definitely be an emotional moment." His journey to this point has been anything but conventional. As a child, he guarded the net as a soccer goalkeeper, dreaming like countless other British youths of a career in the beautiful game.
Over time, the ball he once caught with his hands became the one he now cradles as a tight end. The parks and school fields of South London gave way to the sun‑baked grounds of Florida, Arkansas, and Mississippi as he forged a winding path through college football. "I started playing American football relatively late in my teenage years," the French‑born, UK‑raised athlete explained. "My first experience was with the London Warriors, who were just about ten minutes from my house.
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." Soccer was his primary sport until he discovered American football, which led him to a year at the NFL Academy during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
From there, he moved to the Clearwater Academy in Florida, where he posted 26 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns in a single season, earning a three‑star rating and a scholarship to Arkansas State University. "Playing American football in London, only a handful of people understand how big the sport is overseas," Traoré noted.
"Explaining to my family that I was going to travel half the world to play was a challenge. They didn’t really grasp the game, but they trusted me because they knew I’m a determined guy. If I set my sights on something, I chase it." At Arkansas State, he quickly made a name for himself, leading the Sun Belt Conference in tight‑end receptions his freshman year with 62 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns.
His performance earned him First‑Team All‑Sun Belt honors and caught the attention of larger programs. After two seasons, 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 pivotal. It was here that the scale of college football truly hit home for Traoré and his family.
"Last year was the first time my family visited the United States during the 2025 season," he recalled. "Seeing the size of the stadiums and the intensity of the crowds made me realize just how massive college sports are here. One of my first eye‑opening moments was playing at Ohio State, where over 100,000 fans filled the stadium. It was surreal—my first real sense of ‘wow, I’m actually here.’" His upward trajectory was not without setbacks.
NCAA transfer rules forced him to sit out the 2023 season after his brief stint at Colorado, delaying his on‑field contributions. The missed year also meant he never got to play under Colorado head coach Deion Sanders or alongside two‑position star Travis Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet Traoré views the hiatus as a character‑building period. "It reinforced what I already knew about myself—that I’ll always chase an opportunity and grab it with both hands," he said.
"Just because I’m not playing this season doesn’t mean the chance won’t come next year. It’s about preparation and remembering why I’m here. I’m not going to sit in my dorm, sulk, and waste time.
It forces you to dig deep and remember your purpose." Traoré belongs to the inaugural class of NFL Academy graduates, a program launched in Barnet in 2019 to develop international talent. His story has taken him from the bustling streets and skyscrapers of London to the slower‑paced, countryside‑like environments of Arkansas and Mississippi, teaching him a different rhythm of life.
"I’m still the same person with the same traits, but living in the South for the past five years has given me a more peaceful way of life," he reflected. "It’s a slower pace, and it’s taught me tranquility." His calm outlook shines through as he approaches the most significant moment of his young career. In an NFL UK documentary, he summed up his philosophy: "You have to keep knocking, keep trying different doors, because something will open. When it does, step inside and see what’s there for you." By the end of his college career, Traoré amassed 126 receptions for 1,402 yards and ten touchdowns, with half of those scores coming in his final season at Mississippi State.
He often spent moments after practice gazing at the wall of NFL alumni photos in the team’s indoor facility, visualizing himself among those legends. He remains rooted in his origins, never forgetting the grass fields next to his childhood home in London where he first ran routes. "I always remember my roots and where I grew up. It’s important for people back home to feel inspired, to see that it’s possible," he said.
"Those same fields by my house are where I ran routes as a kid. The environment in London reminds me of where I started and 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 possible." 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.