2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Bo Bauer, LB/LS, The University of Notre Dame

• Name: Bo Bauer
• Position: LB/LS
• College: The University of Notre Dame
• Height: 6’2 3/4”
• Weight: 240 lbs
• Twitter: @____bb52
• Instagram: @___bb52

What made you decide wanted to be a football player?

Growing up I was surrounded by football. My dad loved football and it’s a thrill to go out and play football.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Loved winning 2 state championships in high school and even before that I loved playing community ball and then when I was at Notre Dame playing in the college football playoff and all these big stages and games and playing in the best stadium, Notre Dame Stadium.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

I want to overcome my injury and make a team and play at the next level in any position they need and before my injury I was playing 4 and a half years with no missed time. I want to play in the NFL for a very long time.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

Larry Izzo, someone who played a long time. And Lou Groza someone who changed positions to long snapper like I did and Luke Kuechly, to get an idea of how he prepared and worked out and what his mental side of the game was.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

My dad inspires me, he’s a hard worker and was an entrepreneur and as a father he never missed one of my games which is rare for players growing up now so how he was able to build his companies he worked for while also caring for his family is why he inspires me the most.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

I’ve liked playing a 4-3 which is what my coordinators Coach Lee, Coach Freeman and Coach Golden all ran in different styles. Coach Lee ran a cover 4 and cover 3 and Coach Freeman ran man with zone integrity defense also a split zone and Coach Golden ran that as well.

What should we know about Bo Bauer the person?

Honestly I’ve been so invested in football that it’s what I do mostly but besides that I have a girlfriend named Chloe and I like traveling so in college I went to London, Iceland and Mexico with friends and I was studying abroad in Brazil and South Africa.

What stands out about your film the most?

Versatility I’ve been a 4 phase player and played special teams and until this year I’ve been healthy my entire career and I’ve played mike linebacker, will and coverage and I added long snapper to the mix so I can help teams as much as possible. And I’m very passionate about the game and I run to the ball relentlessly until the whistle to show respect for the game.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

At Notre Dame we are bred to handle adversity because we face tough players in practice and tough classes and games every week and my injury has also made me handle adversity and rely on the people around me and figure out what’s the next best step of the process. I had a friend in high school who was nearing his goal of an olympic wrestler but he hurt his neck ended up as a quadriplegic and he still got through it and is at Harvard Law School and that helped me through my injury.

What would a team get in a player like you?

Versatile, durable player who is in it for the long haul and I can be a special teams ace and play backup on defense in any role and I was special teams captain at Notre Dame this year so I am someone who can be a leader and I have a high football IQ because I have had 3 different coordinators so that’s what I bring as a player. And at Notre Dame you get everyone’s best version of an opponent so I am used to dealing with NFL type moments that will be thrown at me.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love the complexity and high level that football brings both physically and mentally and I don’t think any other sport has the complexity that football brings physically and mentally and football also has the adrenaline and the atmospheres too.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

JD Bertrand, Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau, they were really underrated with how they prepare and I feel like they made the whole linebacker group better.