Travis Clayton, a previous English rugby player who transitioned to gotten to be an hostile handle prospect, was almost to connect his classmates from the Worldwide Pathway Program at the NFL draft arrange in Detroit. All of a sudden, his operator surged to grant him a cell phone.
A diminutive of fervor afterward, Clayton found himself alone on arrange after being chosen by the Buffalo Bills with the 221st choose within the seventh circular.
“It all happened so quick, but gratefully I made it to the organize in time, pulled in several directions,” Clayton said, still catching his breath amid a Zoom call with a Bills cap on his head. “I trust I did everything right on stage.”
Clayton, who is 23 a long time ancient, had an advantage over numerous of his 2024 Pathway Program classmates. He taken part in a 10-week preparing camp-style workout in Florida this winter.
Rather than being alloted to a group by the NFL or marking as an undrafted rookie, Clayton got to be the moment player from the program to be drafted. He taken after Canadian Giovanni Manu, who was picked prior within the day by the Detroit Lions with the 126th choose.
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 303 pounds, Clayton has continuously been included in sports. He played rugby and boxing and attempted his hand at soccer, paddling, and tennis amid his childhood, some time recently choosing against attempting skeleton.
Travis Clayton (Credits:
SI.com)
“I didn’t need to undertake going head-first down a slant on a prepare, so I declined that,” he kidded. He got curious about American football in 2019 when he joined the NFL Foundation. “I appreciate the physical angle. As an hostile lineman, it’s fulfilling to legitimately discharge your outrage on others,” he clarified. “I can utilize my quality to my advantage.”
Clayton caught the consideration of the Bills after one of their scouts observed the Pathway Program workouts. Afterward, Bills hostile line coach Aaron Kromer observed Clayton’s tape and shared it with common director Brandon Beane.
“He said, ‘This guy’s athletic. He’s raw,’” Beane said of Kromer’s response, which driven to Buffalo selecting Clayton with their final pick.
“I haven’t seen him play football much, but I know he was a rugby player and boxer, and everybody says he’s a extraordinary fellow. And his physical estimations are impressive.”
The Bills can take their time creating Clayton. This season, each group will have a 17th spot on the hone squad particularly for an worldwide player.
Groups can too advance an universal hone squad player to the dynamic program up to three times amid the season, giving more openings for players to develop and play.
“We’re excited. He’s attending to require a few improvement, and this can be all modern to him. But his workout was truly impressive,” Beane commented.
Out of the 37 universal players who have joined groups since 2017, five have made it to the dynamic list. One of them is Jordan Mailata, an hostile handle for the Philadelphia Hawks, who has begun 57 recreations in four seasons.
Travis Clayton (Credits:
FOX News)
Clayton specified he didn’t know the Bills were interested until they called him.
“I didn’t have any visits with the Bills, but you know, it’s the NFL. Buffalo come to out to me. They needed me. I’m fair prepared to urge to work,” he said. “I do not think it’ll sink in until I get to Buffalo. Right presently, there are so numerous feelings going on. It’s wild.”
He compared learning American football to learning a unused dialect.
“I always dreamed of playing within the NFL. So hearing my title called was the primary goal. That’s precisely what I wanted,” Clayton said. “There are still numerous steps ahead, but taking the primary step is critical. It’s a
“We’re excited. He’s reaching to require a few advancement, and this can be all unused to him. But his workout was truly impressive,” Beane commented.
Out of the 37 international players who have joined groups since 2017, five have made it to the dynamic list. One of them is Jordan Mailata, an hostile handle for the Philadelphia Hawks, who has begun 57 diversions in four seasons.
Clayton said he didn’t know the Bills were interested until they called him.
“I didn’t have any visits with the Bills, but you know, it’s the NFL. Buffalo come to out to me. They needed me. I’m fair prepared to get to work,” he said. “I do not think it’ll sink in until I get to Buffalo. Right presently, there are so numerous feelings going on. It’s wild.”
He compared learning American football to learning a unused dialect.
“I continuously imagined of playing within the NFL. So hearing my name called was the most objective. That’s precisely what I wanted,” Clayton said. “There are still many steps ahead, but taking the primary step is critical. It’s a blessing.”
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