Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter plays the position with passion, violence, fearlessness, and a downhill mentality. What else would you expect from an LB wearing that last name on their jersey?
Could Philadelphia keep the legacy going by selecting another Trotter in April?
You can tell immediately where his game comes from. As the son of former Eagles All-Pro Jeremiah Trotter, Josiah carries himself like someone who grew up dissecting defensive tape rather than watching Saturday morning cartoons. His instincts are advanced, his eyes trained to read intentions before the offense fully reveals them. Once he keys it, there’s no pause; he shoots to the ball with urgency and intent.
6'2 237, Josiah Trotter has the size and build of an LB who could come in and be a plug-and-play. While a red-shirt sophomore at the University of Missouri, his talent might be too good to ignore and wait for 2027. He could be a top-five linebacker selected in the 2026 draft.
He engages blockers without greetings and salutations; he punishes them. He strikes with a force that disrupts guards and de-cleats tight ends. A relentless motor who stays up-tempo the entire game. When you see him deliver contact, you immediately think, ‘Yes, that’s a Trotter.’ His style separates him from the pack and is easily recognizable.
Josiah Trotter is a smart, physical, downhill linebacker who thrives amid traffic. He processes quickly, uses disciplined pursuit angles, and finishes with force. His instincts, toughness, and communication suggest long-term starting potential as a defensive leader.
Trotter’s blend of awareness and controlled violence shows up in the numbers: at the time of this writing, he has a career missed-tackle rate of just 7.4%, an elite mark that speaks to how rarely he lets a play escape his grasp. He maintains balance through contact, avoids getting lost in traffic, has the short-area burst, and chases plays across the field. Missouri has also unleashed him as a blitzer, and for good reason; he has shown the timing and juice of an edge defender. Stack him up next to the better off-ball pressure players in the 2026 class, and he belongs.
He’s not flawless, no prospect is, but that means he will likely get better. Everything you would want to correct about his game is coachable and correctable, and not even close to a red flag. Trotter’s run recognition, discipline, and anticipation seem to improve every week; there is also a pro-ready feel to his approach that you notice in every possession, evident in his communication, physical tone, and leadership presence.
Josiah is making a name for himself, not simply chasing Jeremiah Trotter Sr., but rather on a quest to extend the family legacy with his own brand of football. His father set the bar, and Josiah seems poised to raise it.
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