Buffalo Bill’s seventh-round NFL Draft pick Travis Clayton has never played a game of competitive American football but the 6ft 7ins Basingstoke Behemoth is ready to BREAK America

Louis Rees-Zammit isn’t the only former rugby player hoping to break into the NFL this season.

Travis Clayton, who has never played a competitive game of American football, was selected as an offensive lineman by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the NFL draft.

Man Mountain Clayton – who last played rugby for eighth-tier Basingstoke RFC of the Counties 2 Hampshire Division in March last year – joined the NFL Academy in 2019 and enrolled in the International Player Pathway Program in January alongside the Welsh speedster Rees-Zammit.

The pair joined fourteen other NFL prospects and headed to Florida in January for an intensive ten-week training camp. And while Rees-Zammit signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in March, the 23-year-old Clayton impressed scouts from a number of teams during practices.

At 21 pounds and 6-foot-1, Clayton is in good shape for a big man. He recently ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds – the fastest time Bills scouts have recorded for an offensive lineman in the past decade.

Louis Rees-Zammit won’t be the only former rugby star trying to break into the NFL this season

‘I like the physical side of things. It’s great to be on the offensive and be able to take your anger out on people legally,” Clayton said. “I can just use my power for my abilities.”

Clayton was in downtown Detroit — where a record 775,000 fans attended the three-day event — to hear his name called Saturday as the 221st overall pick.

“It’s like a carnival in here,” said a cheerful Clayton on Zoom wearing a Bills cap. ‘It was all a bit blurry, but luckily I was able to get on stage in time, dragged left, right and centre. I hope I did well on stage.”

In addition to rugby, Clayton has also tried athletics, football, boxing, rowing and tennis and will soon join his new teammates for organized team activities in preparation for training camp in August.

“I didn’t get a visit from the Bills, but look, it’s the NFL, man. Buffalo came to me. Buffalo wanted me. I’m just ready to work,” Clayton said. “I don’t think it’s really going to happen until I actually get to Buffalo. But right now there’s a world of emotions going on. It’s crazy.’

After watching his workouts, the Bills gambled on his athletic potential. Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer was impressed with Clayton’s tape and sent it to general manager Brandon Beane.

“He said, ‘Man, this guy is athletic. Definitely raw,’” Beane said. “You know, I’ve never really seen him play football,” Beane added. ‘But I know he was a rugby player, boxer and was a great young man in every respect. And his measurable numbers jump off the page.”

The International Player Path was launched in 2017 with the intention of introducing international athletes from all backgrounds to the NFL.

In addition to rugby union, Clayton also tried his hand at athletics, football, boxing, rowing and tennis during his journey to the NFL.

775,000 fans attended the three-day event to hear Clayton’s name called as the 221st overall pick

Five graduates have made active NFL rosters – including British Nigerian Efe Obada of the Washington Commanders, who is entering his seventh NFL season, and Jordan Mailata, an Australian former rugby league player who is an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles .

Now Clayton gets a chance to add himself to that list. “I always dreamed of playing in the NFL,” he added. “So when I heard my name called, that was exactly what I wanted. Many steps still need to be taken, but the first step is a big one. It’s a blessing.’