Notre Dame's Traore Heads Back to Purdue Where His Career Began
The short version
- No. 3 Notre Dame (3-0) plays at Purdue (1-2) on Saturday.
- Traore's first career interception, returned 34 yards for a TD, came at Purdue two years ago.
- He has two sacks, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and three QB hurries this season.
- Purdue QB Ryan Browne ranks top five nationally in passing yards.
The No. 3 Fighting Irish (3-0) visit Purdue on Saturday, with the edge rusher returning to the stadium where he scored his first college touchdown.
Notre Dame defensive end Boubacar Traore makes his return to Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday, when the third-ranked Fighting Irish (3-0) travel to face Purdue (1-2) in the Battle for the Shillelagh.
As a freshman two seasons ago, Traore stepped in after Jordan Botelho went down injured and ran a first career interception back 34 yards for a score. That play sparked a late first-half surge in a 66-7 Notre Dame blowout of the Boilermakers.
"I really haven't played my best yet," Traore said Tuesday. The fourth-year player has been productive this fall, recording two sacks, a forced fumble, three quarterback hurries and five tackles, three behind the line. He also scored on a 14-yard fumble return early in a Week 2 win over Rice.
A knee injury two weeks after the Purdue game ended that season early. Traore came back last year and now says he feels fully healthy, anchoring a run defense that held Wisconsin to 67 rushing yards in the opener and shut down Rice on the ground after halftime against Michigan State.
The matchup offers a different challenge: Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne ranks among the top five nationally in passing yards. Traore, who regularly consults his brother Badara, a former NFL offensive lineman, said he is eager for the pass-rushing test.
