Seydou Traore waited four hours for the call that changed his life. When the Miami Dolphins selected him, his mother Zaia erupted in a viral 'zaghrouta' – a North African celebratory trill. "I was in a trance," she told BBC Sport. "It was pride and relief because it's been years, and it was all worth it."

Traore, 23, became the first NFL Academy graduate to complete the pathway to the NFL. Born in south London, he discovered American football at 16 with London Warriors. The academy, now in Loughborough, helps international players earn US scholarships. Only 0.08% of American high school players reach the NFL, making Traore's journey extraordinary.

At 18, he moved 4,500 miles to Clearwater Academy in Florida. Coach Jesse Chinchar spotted his raw athleticism: a 6ft 3in goalkeeper leaping for one-handed catches. Traore bulked from 193lb to 244lb (a 25% increase) without losing speed. At Arkansas State, coach Butch Jones compared him to Travis Kelce, arranging a video call where Kelce urged him to trust the process.

After stints at Colorado and Mississippi State, Traore's perseverance paid off. His sister Zeinab, once protective, now watches her brother defy odds as an NFL trailblazer.