Seydou Traoré’s first taste of American football came from a weekly NFL program on British television, where he watched former players Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora break down the game. Those early broadcasts sparked a curiosity that would, years later, lead him to become the very subject of such analysis himself. Now, as a tight end for Mississippi State, the 23‑year‑old French‑born, UK‑raised athlete is set to represent South London on the grand stage of the 2026 NFL Draft, underscoring how the sport’s reach has expanded far beyond its traditional borders. When you sit down with Traoré, you notice a calm, almost meditative focus.
He carries himself with a grounded confidence that rarely gives way to the over‑the‑top excitement that many prospects display during draft week. Still, he admits that hearing his name called could stir emotions he usually keeps in check. "It’ll definitely be a special moment," he told Sky Sports. "I’m not usually the most emotional during calls, but there will be a point where the feeling hits you." His journey to this moment has been anything but conventional.
As a child, Traoré was a goalkeeper catching soccer balls, dreaming like countless other British youths of a career in football (soccer). Today, he cradles a completely different kind of ball as a tight end, swapping the green pitches of South London for the grassy fields of Florida, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
"I didn’t start playing American football until my mid‑teens," the young man explained. "My first experience was with the London Warriors, who were just a ten‑minute drive from my home. 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‑19 pandemic, then moved to Clearwater Academy in Florida." At Clearwater, Traoré posted 26 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns in a single season, earning a three‑star recruit rating that paved the way for a scholarship at Arkansas State University. "Playing American football in London is a niche experience. Most people here don’t grasp how big the sport is overseas," he said.
"When I told my family I was going to travel half the world to play, they didn’t fully understand the game. I had to convince them that I believed in myself. They trusted my determination because they knew if I set my mind on something, I would chase it relentlessly." At Arkansas State, Traoré’s impact was immediate. He led the Sun Belt Conference in tight‑end receptions during his freshman season, finishing with 62 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns over two years.
His performance earned him First‑Team All‑Sun Belt honors and attracted attention from larger programs. He transferred to the University of Colorado, but after a single semester he entered the transfer portal again, ultimately landing at Mississippi State.
That final collegiate stop would bring the magnitude of his opportunity into sharp focus. "Last year my family visited the United States for the first time during the 2025 season," he recalled.
"Seeing them at a few big games made me realize just how massive college football is here. It was an eye‑opener. One of the most surreal moments was playing at Ohio State with over 100,000 fans in the stadium.
That was the first time I truly felt the weight of ‘I’m here.’" The path across the Atlantic was already unconventional, but another obstacle appeared when NCAA transfer rules forced Traoré to sit out the 2023 season after his brief stint in Colorado. He had hoped to join Deion Sanders’ Colorado staff and play alongside two‑position star Travis Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the ruling delayed his on‑field debut.
"That setback reinforced what I already knew about myself," he said. "I’m always going to chase an opportunity and grab it with both hands.
Just because I’m not playing this season doesn’t mean there won’t be a chance next year. It forced me to stay prepared, to remind myself why I’m here, and to dig deep instead of sulking in my dorm." Traoré is part of the inaugural class of players who emerged from the NFL Academy, a program launched in Barnet in 2019 to nurture 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. "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’s more peaceful, slower, and has given me a sense of tranquility that I didn’t have in London." His calm demeanor shines through as he approaches the biggest moment of his young career. "You have to keep knocking on doors, trying different ones, because something will open. When it does, walk through and see what’s there for you," he told an NFL UK documentary about his journey. By the time he leaves college, Traoré will have compiled 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 often paused to glance at photos of the program’s NFL alumni displayed on the indoor facility’s wall, imagining his own name among them someday. He remains keenly aware of his roots.
"I always remember where I grew up and how I got here. I want people back home to feel inspired, to see that it’s possible," he said. "Those same grass fields next to my house are where I ran routes as a kid.
The environment in London reminds me of my beginnings and how far I’ve come. My message is simple: if you care deeply about something, chase it. Ignore 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. early Friday morning.