HONORS AND AWARDS

2026 Bednarik Award Watch List
2026 Nagurski Trophy Watch List
2026 Comeback Player of the Year Pre-Season Watch List
2026 Senior Bowl Top 300
2025 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist
2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award Comeback Player of the Month (September)
2025 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watch List (October)
2025 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Pre-Season Watch List

AS A SENIOR (2026)

vs WISCONSIN (9/6): Started on the defensive line in the win… finished the game with three solo tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry… recorded his first sack of the season on the second to last play of the game… part of a defense that held Wisconsin to just 67 rushing yards on 2.2 yards per carry
RICE (9/12): Started on the defensive line… recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown 14 seconds into the game… part of a defense that allowed just 128 total yards
MICHIGAN STATE (9/19): Started on the defensive line… posted a sack… forced a fumble… finished with a pair of solo tackles… credited with two quarterback hurries… part of a defense that allowed zero second-half rushing yards
at PURDUE (9/26): Started on the defensive line… recorded four tackles (two solo)... tallied a half sack… part of a defense that registered six sacks and allowed just 40 rushing yards
AT NORTH CAROLINA (10/3): Started on the defensive line… recorded a team-high six solo tackles… added a tackle for loss… registered four quarterback hurries… pressured and forced an interception in the first quarter… broke up one pass

AS A JUNIOR (2025)

Started 11 games… led the team with a career-high 6.5 sacks on the season… had a team-high 11 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries… forced a fumble… recorded 37 tackles – 23 solo, 14 assisted… posted first-career multi sack game against NC State… College Football Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist
at MIAMI (8/31): Started on the defensive line for the Irish…finished with a career-high six tackles – three solo, three assisted…Recorded a sack on third down in the fourth quarter to get the Irish defense off the field
TEXAS A&M (9/13): Started on the defensive line… recorded a solo tackle… had one quarterback hurry
PURDUE (9/20): Started on the defensive line… had a strip-sack in the first quarter… registered five tackles – two solo and three assisted… tallied two tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry
at ARKANSAS (9/27): Started on the defensive line… tallied four tackles – three solo and one assisted… recorded a sack for a ten-yard loss in the second quarter
BOISE STATE (10/4): Started on the defensive line… recorded four tackles… two solo and two assisted… registered half a sack
NC STATE (10/11): Started on the defensive line… tied his career-high with two sacks… logged four tackles – three solo and one assisted
USC (10/18): Started on the defensive line… recorded three tackles… two solo and one assisted… had a sack in the fourth quarter and a quarterback hurry
AT BOSTON COLLEGE (11/1): Started on the defensive line… recorded three tackles – two solo and one assisted… also tallied half of a tackle for loss
at PITTSBURGH (11/15): Started on the defensive line… recorded two assisted tackles… tallied three quarterback hurries
SYRACUSE (11/22): Started on the defensive line… collected five solo tackles… tallied a career-high three tackles for loss, including one on the first play of the game, and notched a quarterback hurry… registered a sack in the second quarter to force a third and long
AT STANFORD (11/29): Started on the defensive line in the win

AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)

Played in five games before suffering season-ending injury… started against Miami (Ohio)… after Week Four, led all FBS freshman players in sacks (three) and sacks per game… tallied five tackles for loss… added two quarterback hurries… Notre Dame Defensive Player of the game vs. Miami (Ohio)
at TEXAS A&M (8/31): Collected a tackle for the Irish in the win
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (9/7): Set a new single-game career high with three tackles… had two solo and one assisted… also registered a tackle for loss
at PURDUE (9/15): Was a big presence on the defensive side… had a tackle for loss on third-down to forcing Purdue into a punt… had a quarterback hurry and a sack… registered first-career interception and pick-six… posted 34 yards on that same interception return
MIAMI UNIVERSITY (9/22): Started and collected a career-high five tackles… four solo and one assisted… posted a career-high two sacks, which also set career-high for two tackles for loss… forced a fumble… added one quarterback hurry
LOUISVILLE (9/28): Started on defense for the Irish… collected one solo tackle – tackle for loss

AS A FRESHMAN (2023)

Played in five games in his freshman season… earned a solo tackle, a sack for a six yard loss and forced a fumble
TENNESSEE STATE (9/2): Made his collegiate debut in the home opener
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (9/16): Took the field against the Chippewas
USC (10/14): Earned his first career sack and forced fumble at the end of the first half against the Trojans, sacking reigning Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams for a loss of six yards
PITTSBURGH (10/28): Took the field in the victory over the Panthers
OREGON STATE – TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL (12/29): Took the field in the bowl game victory over the Beavers

PREP AND PERSONAL

A consensus four-star recruit as rated by 247 Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals
The 133rd overall prospect, 19th defensive lineman and third-ranked player in the state by 247 Sports
The 159th overall prospect, 21st defensive lineman and fourth-ranked player in the state by On3
The 223rd overall prospect, 36th defensive lineman and fourth-ranked player in the state by ESPN
The 26th-ranked defensive lineman and fourth-ranked player in the state by Rivals
2023 All-American Bowl selection
As a senior, led Catholic Memorial to a Massachusetts State championship, defeating King Phillip Regional in the championship game
Helped Catholic Memorial to a 12-0 finish and a state championship in 2021 as a junior
Played for head coach John Dibiaso
Son of Rose Kaba and Bakary Traore
Has two brothers, Badara and Mohamed, who both competed athletically at the collegiate level
His brother, Badara, played at LSU and is an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals
His other brother, Mohamed, played college basketball at Franklin Pierce (Division II)

Boubacar Traore drops the HAMMER #GoIrish #shorts