Seydou Traore: From London to NFL as first academy graduate

Seydou Traore, a 23-year-old from south London, has made history as the first graduate of England's NFL Academy to be drafted into the NFL after following the complete college pathway. He was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, held in Pittsburgh. During the draft, his mother Zaia's joyous reaction, a traditional North African 'zaghrouta', went viral. "It was pride and relief because it's been years, and it was all worth it," she told BBC Sport.

Traore started playing American football at 16 for the London Warriors. In 2019, he joined the NFL Academy, a programme designed to help international players earn US college scholarships. He then moved to Clearwater Academy in Florida, where his athleticism impressed head coach Jesse Chinchar. Traore's journey included stints at Arkansas State, Colorado, and Mississippi State, where he became a fan favourite for his tea-sipping celebration.

His coach Butch Jones, who coached Travis Kelce at Cincinnati, compared Traore to the NFL star. Despite challenges, including a transfer that left him unable to play in 2023, Traore persevered. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $4.8m (£3.6m). "It feels good, but I keep telling everyone, it's just the beginning," Traore said.