Josiah Trotter (born April 15, 2005) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Missouri Tigers and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.
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Early life
Trotter attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was a standout in football. He earned an invite to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Trotter was rated as a four-star recruit and held offers from schools such as Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. Ultimately, Trotter committed to play college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
College career
West Virginia
Trotter took a redshirt in 2023 due to a knee injury. In week 6 of the 2024 season, he recorded his first career interception off of quarterback Alan Bowman in a win over Oklahoma State. In week eight, Trotter notched four tackles in a win over Arizona. He appeared in 12 games in 2024, notching 92 tackles with four being for a loss, half a sack, three pass deflections, and an interception. Trotter was named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, as well as being named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year. After the season, Trotter entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Missouri
On December 16, 2024, Trotter announced that he would transfer to Missouri.
Professional career
Trotter was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round as the 46th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Personal life
Trotter is the son of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, and is the brother of current NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.