Notre Dame Defensive End Boubacar Traore Taking Massive Strides This Offseason
With NFL Draft potential and a hunger for sacks, Boubacar Traore is re-shaping Notre Dame's defense under new coaching.
It's been 29 years since a defensive end from Notre Dame was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Former Fighting Irish standout Renaldo Wynn went No. 21 overall in the 1997 draft.
Fast forward to 2026, when you look at their current roster, there's a couple of candidates who have the opportunity to break that streak. Rising redshirt junior Boubacar Traore has the ability to do that very soon and with the season he's expecting to have this fall, that streak may come to an end in 2027. "Getting sacks, getting TFLs, coming off the ball and playing with violence," Traore answered when asked what it will look like when he's at his ultimate best.
"Just really trying to help my team reach team glory and get a victory every Saturday. That’s really my main goal. As long as we’re doing that and everybody’s working together as a team, I feel like everybody’s just going to play their best and do what they have to do.
" Heading into this offseason, Notre Dame was tasked with replacing all three of their position coaches on defense with defensive back's coach Mike Mickens headed to the Baltimore Ravens, linebackers coach Max Bullough headed back to his alma mater Michigan State and defensive line coach Al Washington heading to the Miami Dolphins. New defensive line coach Charlie Partridge stepped in and the defensive line continued to flourish under new leadership. "We're all getting a feel for the new coaches and being able to learn from them," Traore shared.