From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Missouri LB Josiah Trotter.
No. 40 JOSIAH TROTTER – 6-2”, 237 POUNDS (RS SOPHOMORE)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Josiah Trotter 6-2/237 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Good size, strength, and build for the position
– Extremely quick to read and react to plays
– Can navigate through traffic well on the offensive line to find ball carriers quickly
– A very violent hitter who is a missile coming downhill to make tackles
– Pursuit speed is exceptional
– Very effective at stacking and shedding blockers with heavy hands to knock guys back
– Known for his high work ethic and mental preparation going into games
– Effective as a “green-dog” blitzer, using good timing to pressure the QB
– Low pad level when he tackles guys that stops them in their tracks
– Runs his feet through tackles and doesn’t shy away from contact
– Wraps up ball carriers and doesn’t miss many tackles
– Still very young and was given a lot of responsibility wearing the green dot this year
– Comes from family bloodlines whose father played the position at a high level in the NFL, and brother currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles
THE BAD
– Doesn’t have good coverage awareness or instincts at this point
– Slow to recognize routes and has inconsistency with depth drops in zone
– Appears to have subpar arm length that could hurt when taking on linemen
– His lateral movement side-to-side looks labored when trying to keep up with receivers
– Has good speed but can get stacked in man coverage situations to get beaten downfield
– Aggression comes back to bite him in coverage, as he bites on play fakes and play action
– Only 2 years of total college football played, albeit as a full-time starter
– Knee and medical injury questions will have to be answered during the pre-draft process
STATS
– 23 career starts played in a total of 24 games between 2 years at West Virginia and 1 year at Missouri
– Career: 1,144 total snaps (71 snaps in the slot, the rest at ILB)
– 130 total special teams snaps (88 FG Block, 27 punt return, 11 kick coverage, 2 kick return, and 2 on punt coverage)
– 176 total tackles (79 solo), 17 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 4 PDs, 1 INT, 0 forced fumbles or fumble recoveries, 88.1 completion percentage against, 107 passer rating against, 3 penalties, 2 TD’s allowed, 73 run stops, 17 missed tackles
– 89.2 run defense grade per PFF
– 78.0 tackle grade per PFF
– 81.6 pass rush grade per PFF
– 47.9 coverage grade per PFF
– 2025: Started all 12 games
– 84 total tackles (43 solo), 13 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PD, 0 INT, 84.4 completion percentage against, 107.9 passer rating against, 2 penalties, 1 TD allowed, 33 run stops, 10 missed tackles
– PFF: 85.1 run defense grade, 81.1 tackle grade, 73.5 pass rush grade, 48.7 coverage grade
INJURY HISTORY
– 2022: missed four games due to MCL injury that required surgery
– 2023: season-ending injury to his leg/knee sustained during spring practice at West Virginia that required surgery
– 2025: missed the Gator Bowl with a minor knee injury
BACKGROUND
– DOB: 4/15/2005 (20 years old)
– Went to Saint Joseph’s Prep H.S. in Philadelphia, PA
– 2025 1st-Team All-SEC
– 2024 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year
– Four-star prospect according to ESPN and Rivals
– Invited to play in the All-American Bowl
– 2022 All-State First Team (LB) by PennLive.com
– 2021 Pennsylvania All-State Team & All-Eastern PA Football Co-Player of the Year
– Helped the Hawks to a 12-1 mark, won the state title, and was in the title game also as a junior
– Finished with 75 tackles, two forced fumbles, three sacks and an interception as a senior
– His father, Jeremiah, was a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Philadelphia Eagles
– Brother, Jeremiah Jr., was an All-American linebacker at Clemson before being drafted by Philadelphia in April 2024
– Majored in Business in college
– Mentored by former NFL player Brian Dawkins
– Coaches were highly impressed by his desire to be in the meeting room and study defensive schemes during his injury rehab
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Josiah Trotter is an old-school, thumper of a middle linebacker who makes his living fighting in the trenches to put a pounding on ball carriers who meet head-on. This guy comes downhill with force and aggression that are just as fast as they are instinctive for him. He also doesn’t miss his chance to bring guys down very often and has very good tackling technique, both in his upper and lower halves. Where he struggles right now in his development is in most areas related to coverage capabilities. He just doesn’t have that sideline-to-sideline athleticism and lateral movement skills to keep up with faster offensive players.
He also has a lot to work on with being more patient to stay in his assignment and cover his ground, rather than being manipulated by quarterbacks to use his aggressive tendencies and eagerness to make plays.
Watch the pre-snap verbal and nonverbal communication signals he sends his teammates and then quickly keys to diagnose to smash through the right tackle’s attempt at blocking him. Trotter is #40 for Missouri in all of the following clips:
pic.twitter.com/OfQMNgrhC0
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 13, 2026
Good luck trying to block Trotter with a tight end, as shown here, they usually get displaced from the play with him before he gets to the runner immediately.
pic.twitter.com/9ubB8RUlf3
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 13, 2026
For a guy as young as he is, he has an uncanny ability to know and find where the gaps will be to come downhill in a hurry to get to the running back. Very good run defense instincts show his preparation and tape study paying dividends. It’s also impressive how evasive he can be to offensive linemen to get around them.
pic.twitter.com/bWTrGGzqkC
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 13, 2026
pic.twitter.com/uIybijTYff
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 13, 2026
The biggest issues with Trotter are in coverage situations. He struggles to avoid being fooled by play fakes and misdirection too often. He has to learn to stay patient and visually aware of his assignment instead of trying to read the quarterback’s eyes for too long or desire to make a play.
pic.twitter.com/EyKBfXehcP
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 13, 2026
Here is an example where he stays in his spot drop coverage area well, and once the play breaks out of structure, he pursues the quarterback, leading to a throw as he’s hit.
pic.twitter.com/LT2iwU0nH7
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 13, 2026
CONCLUSION
Josiah Trotter loves to live in the fray of contact and violence as a middle linebacker of the defense. He has athleticism and toughness that NFL teams would be happy to have on their team, but he still has room to grow as a professional with the responsibility that comes with wearing the green dot of a defense, especially as a coverage defender.
His professional career hinges on his ability to read and react quickly in pass defense situations, as he will be tested often should he not develop in that area. He has a lot of upside to be a starting “Will” or “Mike” linebacker in the NFL, but he is not ready to take that responsibility quite yet.
I think he would be a perfect fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers 3-4 defense to come in and be that type of tone-setting inside linebacker they desperately need. He has grown up with high-level football role models his whole life and now wants to make a name for himself. With the team already having Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson as their starters, he could come in and get snaps as an early-down run defender while he gets acclimated to the speed of the NFL.
Trotter is a player I would absolutely plant my flag on as being an impact starter sooner rather than later, and a guy I’d want in the locker room to help change the run defense dynamic, especially. His play style and body type remind me a lot of Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins, who has become a sledgehammer for that defense.
NFL Projection: Early-Mid Day 2
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 8.3 MED (Long-Term Starter)
Grade Range: 8.0 – 8.8
Games Watched: vs South Carolina (2025), at Auburn (2025), vs Penn State (2024), at Texas Tech (2024)
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