Written by Peter Carline
Updated April 28, 2024 22:30, April 29, 2024 08:29
- Travis Creighton was selected Saturday with the 221st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
- The former rugby player has already tried a variety of sports during his career.
- He will aim to join Louis Rees-Zammit in the NFL
Louis Rees-Zammit is not the only former rugby union winger hoping to make it to the NFL this season.
Although Travis Clayton has never played in a competitive American football game, he was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills as an offensive lineman.
Man Mountain Creighton, who last played rugby for Counties 2 Hampshire District 8 side Basingstoke RFC in March last year, joined the NFL Academy in 2019 and joined Wales in January. He has enrolled in the International Player Pathway Program along with speedster Rees Zammit.
The two joined 14 other NFL prospects and headed to Florida in January for an intensive 10-week training camp. And while Rees-Zammit signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in March, the 23-year-old Creighton impressed scouts from many teams during practice.
At No. 21, 9 pounds and 6 feet, 7 inches, Clayton is in good shape for a big man. He recently ran the 40-meter dash in 4.79 seconds. That's the fastest time Bills scouts have recorded for an offensive lineman in the last 10 years.
“I love the physical side of things. It's great to be on the offensive line and be able to legitimately get mad at people,” Clayton said. “You just have to use your strengths to your ability.”
Creighton was in downtown Detroit on Saturday to hear his name called as the 221st overall pick, with a record 775,000 fans attending the three-day event.
“It's like a carnival here,” a gleeful Clayton, wearing a Bills cap, said over Zoom. “Everything was a bit of a blur, but luckily I managed to get on stage in time, dragging left, right and center. I hope I did well on stage.”
As well as rugby union, Clayton has also tried his hand at track and field, football, boxing, rowing and tennis, and will soon be taking part in organized team activities with his new teammates as he prepares for training camp in August. is.
“I didn't have a visit with the Bills, but look, it's the NFL, dude. Buffalo came to me. Buffalo wanted me. I'm just ready to work. ” Clayton said. “I don't think it's going to really hit the ground running yet until we actually get to Buffalo. But right now, there's a world of emotions going on. It's crazy.”
After watching him work out, the Bills bet on his athletic ability. Bills offensive line coach Aaron Cromer was impressed with Creighton's tape and sent it to general manager Brandon Beane.
He said, “Oh, this guy is athletic. He's obviously raw,'' Beane said. “You know, I've never really seen him really play football,” Bean added. “But I know he was a rugby player, he was a boxer, he was a great lad by all accounts. And his measurables jump off the page.”
The International Player Pathway was launched in 2017 with the goal of bringing international players from all backgrounds into the NFL.
Five graduates are on the NFL's active roster, including Efe Obada, a British-Nigerian with the Washington Commanders who is in his seventh season in the NFL, and former Australian rugby league player Efe Obada, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. That includes offensive tackle Jordan Mailata.
Now Creighton has a chance to add himself to that list. “I always had a dream of playing in the NFL,” he added. “So when I heard my name called, it was exactly what I wanted. There's still a lot of work to do, but the first step is a big one. It's a blessing.”
