Career Summary

Seydou Traore is a London-born tight end who developed from a goalkeeper and late football convert into a 2026 Miami Dolphins draft pick.

Seydou Traore took a global route to professional football, growing up in London before coming to the United States to pursue a Division I opportunity. After productive careers at Arkansas State and Mississippi State, Miami selected him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

Early Life

Traore grew up in London and played soccer as a goalkeeper before taking up American football.

Traore grew up in London, England, where he was a standout soccer goalkeeper. He came to the United States seeking a Division I football scholarship after previously having no 11-man-football experience.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

High School

At Clearwater Academy International, Traore played his first season of 11-man football and quickly became a Division I prospect.

Traore spent one season at Clearwater Academy International in Florida. He recorded 26 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns, earned a three-star rating from 247Sports, and drew recruiting interest from programs including Florida State, Iowa State, and Memphis.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

College Career

Across Arkansas State and Mississippi State, Traore totaled 131 catches, 1,482 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 48 games.

Traore began at Arkansas State, where he had 62 receptions for 752 yards and four touchdowns over two seasons. NCAA transfer rules required him to sit out 2023 after his move to Mississippi State.

At Mississippi State in 2025, Traore played all 13 games with 12 starts and set career highs with 35 receptions, 369 yards, and five touchdowns. His season included a 57-yard touchdown reception against Southern Miss.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

Path to the NFL

His progression from late football convert to productive SEC tight end led to a fifth-round selection in 2026.

Traore entered college football as a former goalkeeper who had only one year of high-school 11-man experience. His development at Arkansas State and Mississippi State produced 131 career catches and placed him on Miami's draft board.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

NFL Career

Miami selected Traore with the 180th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Miami Dolphins selected Traore, a Mississippi State tight end, with the 180th overall selection in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

Career Accomplishments

Traore earned first-team All-Sun Belt and honorable mention All-America honors in 2022 before continuing his career in the SEC.

At Arkansas State, Traore received 2022 first-team All-Sun Belt recognition and honorable mention All-America honors. He later earned academic honors at Mississippi State, including the 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12

Playing Style

Official team materials described Traore as an athletic tight end whose football background is still developing.

Miami described Traore as a rare athlete who is still developing his football gifts. His soccer-goalkeeper background and 6-foot-3, 244-pound frame formed the basis of a receiving tight-end profile built through a relatively short football career.

Section reviewed 2026-09-12