Boubacar Traore Returns to Notre Dame, Bolstering a Loaded 2026 Defense
Notre Dame just scored a big-time win-and it didn’t come on the field or through the transfer portal. On Thursday, standout defensive lineman Boubacar Traore announced he’s coming back to South Bend for another season, giving the Irish a major boost as they gear up for a 2026 campaign loaded with expectations.
Traore’s decision to run it back with the Irish is no small headline. This is a player who’s shown flashes of dominance every time he’s been healthy, and now he’s poised to be a cornerstone on a defense that’s shaping up to be one of the most experienced and disruptive units in the country.
Let’s rewind the tape a bit. A former four-star recruit in the 2023 class, Traore got his feet wet early, appearing in five games in each of his first two seasons.
He redshirted in 2023-playing in four regular season games and a bowl-but came into 2024 looking like a breakout star in the making. Then came the Louisville game.
An untimely injury cut his season short just as he was hitting his stride.
But 2025 told a different story. Traore returned to the field and reminded everyone why he was such a highly touted recruit in the first place.
He brought relentless energy and edge-rushing ability that opposing offensive lines struggled to contain. Despite dealing with some bumps and bruises again, he played in 10 games, racking up 37 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
That kind of production, especially coming off an injury, is the stuff that gets NFL scouts buzzing-and they were. Some projections had him locked in as a Day 2 pick in the upcoming draft.
And yet, Traore’s not done in South Bend.
His decision to stay speaks volumes-not just about his commitment to finishing what he started, but also about the culture Chris Ash is building on the defensive side of the ball. This is a group that’s not only returning key veterans like Traore but also welcoming in fresh talent from the portal.
It’s a unit that had to learn on the fly early in 2025. Now, they’re walking into 2026 with experience, depth, and a chip on their shoulder.
Traore’s return gives the Irish a proven pass rusher who can change a game with one explosive play. He’s the kind of player who makes life easier for everyone around him-drawing double teams, collapsing pockets, and forcing quarterbacks into mistakes. And with a full offseason to get healthy and refine his game, there’s every reason to believe his best football is still ahead of him.
For Notre Dame, this is more than just one player coming back. It’s a signal that the program is building something players want to be a part of. With Traore anchoring the defensive front, the Irish look ready to make a serious push in 2026-and they’ll do it with one of the most dynamic edge threats in college football leading the charge.