Do the Eagles have their eyes set on the son of a legendary player?

The NFL Draft is finally here, and the Eagles are officially on the clock. While the question is who will they select in the first round, Philly has been linked to one prospect in the later rounds for quite some time. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., son of Eagles’ legend Jeremiah Trotter, has been tied to the Eagles all offseason. GM Howie Roseman also admitted he is bias in favor of drafting players with ties to the Philadelphia franchise. 

“I’m biased towards our hometown players. I’m biased towards the people who have legacy with this franchise. So I think that’s hard. And I think that’s why, coach talked about getting a lot of the information and trying to get myself out of that moment and just trying to make the best decision for the Philadelphia Eagles and not making an emotional decision.”

And while Howie did not mention him by name, every Eagles’ fan knows who Roseman was referring to. Trotter Jr. is as familiar with the atmosphere in Philadelphia as the city is with him.

Stretching his wings

Trotter Jr. has been training for this moment to play in the NFL his whole life, including being coached by his father. 

“Well, I’ve been a linebacker ever since I was in middle school. So, yeah, pretty much, he’s been teaching me to play linebacker since I was a little kid. After every practice, we’re watching film. He’s coaching me up, watching film with me whenever I get back home.”

He knows how valuable a resource he has in his father and he has soaked up all of the knowledge and listed and learned from all of his experiences.

“Learning from my dad was an experience that I really enjoyed because of all the knowledge he’s gained throughout his career in college and the NFL. All of the great minds that poured into him, he was able to pour out into me. It really helped me become the linebacker that I am today.”

College

All of the dedication and hard work is what made Trotter Jr. a four-star recruit out of St. Joseph’s in North Philadelphia. He was ranked the 5th best linebacker in the state, and Clemson University was watching. 

Jeremiah is about the same size as Nakobe Dean, around 6 feet tall and weighs 230 pounds. Per mockdraftable, this is about 2 inches shorter and 10 pounds lighter than an average NFL LB, but do not let his stature fool you. He is very physical and plays a lot bigger. Clemson valued his talent and play on the field more than his size, and it played a large role in Jeremiah’s decision about where he would play college football. 

“I went to (Clemson’s) camp in my sophomore or junior year of high school. I put on some size, I was around 210 pounds. (The coaches) wanted to see how I moved and played the game of football at that camp. They really liked it and ended up offering me a scholarship. They were one of the first schools that didn’t make an impression off how big I was at the time. They based it off how I played the game. I really appreciated that.”

The interest and respect were mutual, and Jeremiah he racked up 192 tackles (113 solo), 13 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles over two years of starting at Clemson. 

His elite play recognition is one of the reasons he put up such great numbers and is also one of the traits that separate him from the other linebackers in the 2024 NFL Draft class. But make no mistake, he wants to be a 3-down player and has proven he has the skill set and the desire to turn that dream into a reality. 

“For my game, I think I’m very versatile. I feel like I don’t have a major weakness in my game. If you need me to cover a running back or tight end, I can do that. If you want to blitz me, I can blitz. If you need someone who’s physical in the run game and taking on linemen, I can do that. That’s a part of my game that separates me from a lot of linebackers.”

NFL

Despite outsiders believing his day in the NFL was a forgone conclusion, Jeremiah never took that for granted. He stayed focused and never allowed the outside noise to be a distraction. Trotter does not allow all of the draft hype to get to him either.

“It’s definitely a blessing. It’s definitely exciting when you think about it. But I don’t let those rankings get into my head too much. I don’t want to stop doing what I did to get to this point. Of course, in my mind, I’m the best around. I know the work I’m putting in is paying off so I just need to put my head down and keep working.”

Like Father, Like Son

Twenty-six years ago, the Eagles selected Jeremiah Trotter Sr. with pick 72 of the 3rd round in the 1998 NFL Draft. He has shared his wealth of knowledge with his son while also keeping boundaries between father and coach. 

“I never asked him to do anything I’d never done. The work ethic, the discipline, everything it takes, everything you’re doing, I’ve done that. I would never ask him to do anything I wasn’t willing to do”

Future starter for the Eagles?

Trotter Jr. has stated that he met with the Eagles in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine. Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni were in the meeting as well. So for those fans looking for a full circle moment, and a chance to break out those old #54 jerseys, the dream is still alive.