Unknown rugby player Travis Clayton has become Britain's latest NFL player. He's traded eighth-tier rugby club Basingstoke for the Buffalo Bills after being selected 221st overall in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Louis Rees-Zammit has made plenty of headlines after quitting international rugby union with Wales to join the Kansas City Chiefs. But he isn't the only Brit swapping rugby for American football next season with Clayton carving out his own unlikely path.
The 23-year-old is ready to start a new chapter in the US after leaving behind Basingstoke to chase his NFL dream. Incredibly, he was picked in the draft by the Bills, catapulting him from relative obscurity into the limelight.
Standing at an impressive 6ft 7in and boasting remarkable speed for his size, Clayton caught the attention of the Bills through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. He had previously been part of the NFL Academy in London, but his American Football experience is limited.
He's been chosen as an offensive lineman by his new team, being snapped up in the seventh round. The goal for Clayton now is to fight for a spot on the active roster in Buffalo.
His chance will come during the Bills' Organised Training Activities (OTAs), and he'll also be tested at their training camp. Staying true to his British roots, the hopeful from Hampshire, England took to social media to express his gratitude to those who have helped make his transition to the sport possible.
In a heartfelt message, Clayton expressed his gratitude towards his UK fanbase and made a commitment to them, stating: "Just want to shout out all the UK fans for sticking by me and supporting me and look, I've made it to the NFL and now it's time to represent and show the rest of the world exactly why UK athletes should play in the NFL."
He steps into the NFL spotlight equipped with impressive physical prowess, standing tall and weighing in at 300 lbs, not to mention his extraordinary acceleration. The ex-rugby union winger has previously clocked an eye-catching 4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash during IPP Pro Day.
The young talent has now candidly shared his astonishment and excitement about being picked in the NFL draft held in Detroit this week. Speaking to ESPN, he confessed: "It was all a bit of a blur, but luckily I managed to get on stage in time, dragged left, right and center. I hope I did it right on stage."
Clayton also discussed how he plans to leverage his formidable physical traits in the NFL, saying: "I love the physical side of things. Being on the offensive line, being able to take your anger out on people legally, it's great. I can just use my strength to my abilities."
Reflecting on how he joined forces with the Bills, Clayton revealed: "I didn't have visits with the Bills, but look, it's the NFL, man. Buffalo came to me. Buffalo wanted me. I'm just ready to work. I don't think it's really going to kick in yet until I actually get to Buffalo. But at the moment, it's a world of emotions going on right now. It's crazy."
He continued, expressing his lifelong ambition: "I always had the dream of playing in the NFL. So hearing to get my name called out, that's the main goal. That's exactly what I wanted. There is a lot of steps still to be done, but the first step is a big one I've done. It's a blessing."