Boubacar Traore's dominant play earns him recognition among PFF's top returning edge rushers, hinting at a breakout season.
PFF has started to release their Top 10 position group breakdowns where they rank the top returning players in the country at each position group. Offensively, they've broken down quarterbacks running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, offensive guards and centers. Defensively, they've ranked their Top 10 interior defensive lineman and edge defenders. Notre Dame's Boubacar Traore made this list as an honorable mention.
"Traore became one of the Fighting Irish’s starting edge rushers as a redshirt sophomore and enjoyed a breakout campaign," Max Chadwick explained. "His 10 sacks were tied for 13th most in the Power Four, and his 79.4 PFF overall grade was a top-30 mark. Traore also notched a solid 75.2 PFF run-defense grade and seems to be only scratching the surface of his potential."
Notre Dame's defensive line, as a whole, is due for a big season. They were one of the most underrated units in the country last season after ending the year leading the nation in total pressures according to PFF. It would have been interesting to see what that unit could have done in the post season. Traore, led the team in total pressures, sacks and hits on the quarterback.
In eleven games last season, Traore racked up 37 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.0 tackles for a loss, 26 run stops, 31 total pressures and one forced fumble. In 2025, the 6-5, 253-pound edge rusher led the team in all categories except forced fumbles and run stops; he ranked second on the team overall in total run stops behind middle linebacker and captain Drayk Bowen. This year, Traore is expected to take that next step to national stardom and become an elite edge player.
Since his arrival on campus, Traore has had the tools to become and elite edge player and a day-one NFL Draft pick. In one of his only meaningful snaps of the season in 2023, Traore sacked USC quarterback Caleb Williams at the end of the first half. In 2024, he was looking like he was going to breakout, but a knee injury against Louisville sidelined him for the rest of the season.
He returned in 2025 and started every game except at home against Navy. Now, Traore is starting to generate the buzz of a Top 10 edge player in the country and has an argument to ranked within PFF's list, not just named as an honorable mention. But if the Massachusetts native has the season we believe he's capable of having, it won't take long before he quickly ascends in the eyes of national pundits.
PFF's Top 10 Edge Rushers
1. Colin Simmons, Texas
2. Clev Lubin, Louisville
3. Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
4. John Henry Daley, Michigan
5. Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
6. Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
7. Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
8. Will Heldt, Clemson
9. Damon Wilson II, Miami
10. Prince Imanmielen, LSU
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