Talent, Pedigree Keep Josiah Trotter Ready
May 9th, 2026
Second-round pick rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter.
So projected starting Bucs inside linebacker Josiah Trotter turned 21 years old three weeks ago following two seasons of college football.
Josiah Trotter was a medical redshirt as a freshman at the University of West Virginia. Then he had a season on the field followed by a transfer to the University of Missouri, where SEC coaches voted him an All-Conference linebacker.
The Bucs grabbed him at No. 46 overall.
Trotter addressed a question yesterday at Bucs rookie minicamp of how he’s been able to thrive quickly in new environments. Trotter basically said that’s all he’s known as the son of four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.
“I just think it’s just the God-given abilities and gifts that God blessed me with to be able to use that. And having my dad in my life, he helped me a lot,” Trotter said. “I feel like my whole life I was playing up, and able to adjust pretty quickly. So having that in my life definitely helped. And then just my [maturity,] I just feel like I do a good job coming into the building being about business, being about ball.”
Trotter added that he’s all about attacking one day at a time and earning the respect of my teammates and coaches.
The past? Everything I did [in college] doesn’t matter,” Trotter said.
Yes, Joe buys the predraft chatter that Trotter is weak in coverage. But Joe also buys the predraft chatter that Trotter has been groomed to be a stud linebacker and simply needs more experience and seasoning in pass coverage. In short, he’ll develop — and quickly.
It can’t hurt that Bucs inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell is a family friend of the Trotter. Josiah Trotter noted he spent Thanksgivings with his new position coach.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs craft practice to get Trotter as much coverage experience as possible. The Bucs offense sure has the weapons to challenge Trotter to the extreme.