LONDON, May 1 – The selection of Seydou Traore by the Miami Dolphins during the fifth round of last week’s NFL Draft marked a milestone moment for Kris Durham, the former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver who leads the UK-based NFL Academy.
Traore, who grew up in South London, was among the first students enrolled at the Academy in 2019 and demonstrates that non-traditional routes to professional football can succeed.
“Seydou’s paved a path for the future generations and the generations after that,” Durham told Reuters.
The Academy’s mission involves discovering and developing international athletes who can transition into the American college football system. For Traore, who had been a promising soccer goalie, the program offered an ideal opportunity.
Following his transfer to Clearwater Academy in Florida for his senior year of high school, Traore built a successful college football career playing tight end. He started at Arkansas State before transferring to Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he recorded 35 catches and five touchdowns in his final season.
According to Traore, hearing his name called by the Dolphins felt like a dream, while Durham, who has overseen the NFL Academy since 2025, viewed it as confirmation of the program’s effectiveness.
“It’s just an incredible story that shows it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be an international kid and make it to the NFL,” he said.
Before discovering American football, Traore participated in Premier League club Fulham’s youth development program as a goalkeeper. His interest in American football began while watching games on television, then progressed to playing for the London Warriors in front of small crowds.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 244 pounds, Traore possesses remarkable athletic ability, excellent ball-tracking skills, and reliable hands. However, Durham believes Traore’s mental approach sets him apart from other players.
“He’s always had the measurables, the size, the speed, the hands. But it’s the intangible things, his ability to understand what’s happening before it happens,” he said. “He’s almost playing chess instead of checkers. That’s what’s elevated him beyond his peers.”
Currently housed at Loughborough University, the NFL Academy program includes 68 students representing 20 nations, with 40 former students now competing in NCAA college football.
Data indicates that only 1.6% of American college football players eventually reach the NFL. The odds are even steeper for international players, but Traore’s achievement provides encouragement for aspiring athletes from outside football’s traditional strongholds.
“Being American myself, having played the game, I’ve seen what Europeans and international students bring to it,” Durham said. “It’s a level of maturity, a level of determination because they’ve had to fight stereotypes.
“When they’re going through the recruiting process, the question is why should they recruit somebody from England over a kid from Mississippi or Texas? Seydou’s answered those questions. He’s changing the narrative.
“He’s kind of the godfather of what we’re doing.”
During the draft ceremony in Pittsburgh, Efe Obada announced Traore’s selection. Obada, another London native who successfully transitioned to the NFL and played notably for the Carolina Panthers, served as an inspiration for Traore.
“He was like a pioneer for international guys,” Traore said. “He showed what’s possible. It meant a lot for him to kind of pass the torch to me.”
While Traore has a challenging path ahead to match Obada’s accomplishments or those of his hero Travis Kelce, Durham considers Traore’s draft selection already represents a triumph for the NFL Academy.
“Do I think we’re going to start having an influx of NFL Academy players into the league. Absolutely, I 100% do,” he said. “If we can get players into those locker rooms to showcase who they are, then that’s where they’re going to really accelerate their careers.”
