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Notre Dame Football Recruiting: 4-Star defensive lineman Boubacar Traore commits to the Irish

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Another blue-chipper joins the 2023 class

By Joshua Vowles
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boubacar traore
Boubacar Traore
Boston Herald

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish remain HOT on the recruiting trail after they gained a commitment on Wednesday from 4-Star defensive lineman Boubacar Traore. The 6’5” 240 pounder from West Roxbury, Massachusetts, chose the Irish over an offer list that included the Michigan Wolverines and Pittsburgh Panthers.

Boubacar Traore gave the Boston College Eagles a commitment back in August of 2020, but had a change of heart this past March when he finally decommitted in March.

Evaluation from 247’s Brian Dohn:

Verified size with nearly 80-inch wing span. High-level athlete with versatility as defensive end or interior defensive lineman. Has frame to play at 250 pounds or bulk up to 280. Brother of NFL offensive lineman Badara Traore. Missed much of junior season with foot injury. Sophomore season limited to four games because of pandemic so plenty of room for development. Shows twitch in firing off ball. Stays low and explodes up and into offensive lineman. Lower body flexibility allows for shoulder dip to gain edge. Effective in back side pursuit. Demonstrates body control in 1-on-1 tackling situations in space. Changes direction well. Shows some stack-and-shed ability. Has to continue to develop upper body strength. Relies heavily on speed so needs to work on technique, particularly with hands, and ability to get inside. All-conference potential at Power 5 level. Early round NFL draft potential.

Traore is the 11th commitment of the 2023 Notre Dame recruiting class and the second 4-Star player from the state of Massachusetts. (That Barry Gallup Jr. pipeline is strong). Currently Notre Dame has the #1 class in the country according to both the 247 Team Composite and the On3 Consensus Team rankings.

2023 Notre Dame Football Commit List (12)

POSITION PLAYER STATE HT WT RIVALS ESPN 247 SPORTS 247 COMPOSITE On3 On3 Consensus COMMIT DATE
POSITION PLAYER STATE HT WT RIVALS ESPN 247 SPORTS 247 COMPOSITE On3 On3 Consensus COMMIT DATE
DE Keon Keeley FL 6'5" 230 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 06/28/21
DE Brenan Vernon OH 6'5" 245 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 06/29/21
S Adon Shuler NJ 6'0" 190 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 08/15/21
TE Cooper Flanagan CA 6'5" 225 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 09/02/21
LB Drayk Bowen IN 6'2" 215 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 11/03/21
S Peyton Bowen TX 6'0" 185 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 01/01/22
LB Preston Zinter MA 6'2" 220 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 01/11/22
WR Braylon James TX 6'3" 185 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 04/19/22
OL Sam Pendleton NC 6'4" 295 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 04/25/22
DL Boubacar Traore MA 6'5" 240 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 04/27/22
DL Devan Houstan MD 6'5" 270 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 05/07/22
OL Sullivan Absher NC 6'7" 290 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 05/13/22

This #1 class is truly anchored right now by the defense — and in particular the defensive line. With 5-Star Keon Keeley as a VYPER and the ability of both Boubacar Traore and Brennan Vernon to play inside or outside, the Irish could be done along the line this cycle — but will still continue to go hard after a couple of Maryland 4-Star DL in Jason Moore and Devan Houstan.

2023 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart

Position / Year Freshmen Sophomore Junior Senior 5th/6th Year
Position / Year Freshmen Sophomore Junior Senior 5th/6th Year
Quarterback - Steve Angeli Tyler Buchner, Ron Powlus Drew Pyne -
Running Back - Jadarian Price, Gi'Bran Payne Audric Estime, Logan Diggs Chris Tyree -
Tight End Cooper Flanagan Eli Raridon, Holden Staes Cane Berrong, Mitchell Evans Michael Mayer, Kevin Bauman -
Wide Receiver Braylon James Tobias Merriweather Deion Colzie, Lorenzo Styles, Jayden Thomas - -
Center - Ashton Craig Pat Coogan - Zeke Correll
Guard Sam Pendleton Billy Schrauth Rocco Spindler - Andrew Kristofic
Tackle Sullivan Absher Joey Tanona, Ty Chan, Aamil Wagner Blake Fisher, Joe Alt, Caleb Johnson Michael Carmody, Tosh Baker -
Defensive Tackle Boubacar Traore, Devan Houstan Tyson Ford, Donovan Hinish Gabe Rubio Rylie Mills, Aidan Keanaaina Howard Cross, NaNa Osafo Mensah
Defensive End Keon Keeley, Brenan Vernon Joshua Burnham, Aiden Gobaira Jason Onye, Will Schweitzer Alexander Ehrensberger Isaiah Foskey, Osita Ekwonu
Linebacker Drayk Bowen, Preston Zinter Nolan Ziegler, Junior Tuihalamaka, Jaylen Sneed Prince Kollie Jordan Botelho Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, JD Bertrand
Safety Adon Shuler, Peyton Bowen Jayden Bellamy Justin Walters Xavier Watts, Ramon Henderson -
Cornerback - Jayden Mickey, Benjamin Morrison Ryan Barnes, Philip Riley, Chance Tucker Clarence Lewis Cam Hart
Specialists - Bryce McFerson (P) Josh Bryan (K) Alex Peitsch (LS) -
Totals 12/85 (12) 34/85 (22) 57/85 (23) 71/85 (14) 81/85 (10)
5th year eligibility moving forward is not represented on this chart due to COVID year. May be subject to change.

This is a fantastic pickup for the Irish — and one we have been waiting on for about a month now to be public. Traore is a top 100 overall player according to ESPN, 247 Sports, and On3. His small offer list is really only due to his longtime commitment to BC and because of the state that he resides. Traore is a huge win for the Irish in a class that will finish as one of the best on the nation come signing day.

FIST PUMPS UP FOR BOUBACAR!

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