Seydou Traore

Seydou (Say-Do) “Ziko” Traore (TRY-or-A) was born in France, but grew up in London (his mother is French-Algerian; his father is from the Ivory Coast). He grew up playing soccer and was a standout goalie before giving football a chance and falling in love with the sport. He joined the NFL Academy in London, which is part of the International Pathway Program (IPP), and played 9-on-9 football. Looking to maximize his football potential and earn a scholarship, he moved to the United States (in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic) for his senior year of high school. He played for Clearwater Academy International as a 210-pound wide receiver and caught 26 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns in an abbreviated schedule. A three-star recruit, Traore heard from Florida State, Memphis and Iowa State, but only Arkansas State offered him. He had a breakout sophomore year in 2022 and transferred to Colorado (over Utah) in January 2023. However, he reentered the portal after 2023 spring practices, saying he wanted a better fit. He landed at Mississippi State and sat out the 2023 season as a double transfer. After bouncing between receiver and tight end, he posted consistent production as a junior and senior in the SEC. Despite a slightly undersized frame, Traore is rocked-up and muscular through his arms, chest and lower body. He aligned primarily detached at Mississippi State, as a dynamic “big” slot, which showcased his smooth athleticism and after-catch talent (he had just three catches of 20-plus yards in 2025, though). He has more natural ball skills than one might expect from a player with his meager experience, and he shows ascending toughness through the catch point. His coaches praise his dedicated mindset and commitment. He doesn’t have the base strength to hold his ground as a blocker, but he is effective in the screen game, when he can close on targets in space. Overall, Traore is still young in football years (didn’t play 11-man football until 2020), but he off