PHILADELPHIA, PA — Jeremiah Trotter Jr., wearing a pointy blue go well with and Clemson orange flower on his left lapel, sat there final Friday evening on a bean bag within the basement of his father’s South Jersey dwelling wanting casually wanting down at his cellular phone. The names of the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft had been being referred to as, and the 6-foot, 230-pound two-year beginning inside linebacker at Clemson hoped he can be amongst them. His father, beloved former Eagles’ linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., was making the purpose to his visitors that it doesn’t matter the place you’re picked within the draft, so long as you’re chosen.
Then, Trotter Sr. confused, it’s time to go to work.
It took just a few extra rounds, with the No. a hundred and fifty fifth total arriving within the fifth spherical, for Trotter Jr.’s identify to be referred to as by the Eagles. He was sitting within the again seat of his dad’s truck in Morgantown, West Virginia, simply after watching his youthful brother Josiah play in West Virginia’s spring sport when he received the decision from Howie Roseman on Saturday afternoon.
The very first thing Trotter Sr. mentioned to his son was “It’s time to go to work.”
Junior turns into an Eagle with some added motivation. He ought to have gone larger. And he is aware of it. He is not going to say it out of humility. He was projected to be a second- or third-round choose, based mostly on his junior season when he led Clemson in tackles (88), tackles for loss (15.0) and was tied for the staff lead with 5.5 sacks. It was his second consecutive season main Clemson in tackles (92), tackles for loss (13.5), and sacks (6.5).
In response to Professional Soccer Focus, Trotter Jr.’s 92.0 protection grade since 2022 is one of the best amongst FBS linebackers with a minimal 600 protection snaps. He was additionally one in every of three Energy 5 gamers to have 10-plus sacks, 4-plus interceptions, 3-plus pressured fumbles, and 2-plus pick-sixes in a two-season span since 1996 (UCLA’s Akeem Ayers and UNC’s Julius Peppers).
On Wednesday, Trotter Jr. launched into his NFL profession by reporting to the Eagles’ rookie minicamp.
The Eagles will likely be getting a fired-up rookie who they must kick off the follow area as a result of he’ll need additional reps. His new Eagle coaches can’t wait to work with him. Junior did every little thing proper from highschool to the excessive school degree.
When the draft got here, for the primary time in his life, he had NFL groups questioning his capacity as a soccer participant.
“I fully perceive the why and what groups had been on the lookout for when drafting linebackers,” mentioned Junior, a two-time second-team Related Press All-American, a first-team all-ACC linebacker as a junior and was a finalist for the Butkus Award as one of many nation’s high linebackers. “Groups will at all times wish to go for a man who has the dimensions whose sport can translate to the subsequent degree. I fully perceive it, and contemplating there’s some huge cash that goes into issues like this, it is sensible. I trusted in God and hoped for the chance to try this. I admire God for the possibility.
“I’ll say that there’s a built-in chip in your shoulder when individuals doubt you due to your measurement, however I’ll at all times be motivated internally. I do play with a little bit little bit of a chip on my shoulder. I’m going into this set to show that I can actually play within the NFL. After I was sitting there final Friday, I used to be sitting there ready for the decision. I knew some groups wouldn’t take me due to my measurement. Sadly, I didn’t get the decision, however I did get the decision the subsequent day by an excellent staff, a staff I grew up rooting for. I can’t wait to get began.”
A tireless pupil of the sport, Trotter Jr. instantly went to work pouring over sport movie and particulars of what new Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes to do together with his linebackers. For one, Trotter Jr. aligns completely with Fangio’s system of blitzing linebackers and dropping linebackers in protection. He additionally mixes a person protection with zone.
There will likely be unfair comparisons between Junior and his dad. Jeremiah Sr., “The Axe Man,” was an 11-year professional who performed eight years with the Eagles, although performed in a unique period than at present. However Jeremiah Sr. is the primary to confess “Junior is quite a bit higher than me, way more educated than me, and much more athletic than me once I first got here into the league. He would sit subsequent to me breaking down sport movie when he was eight. Junior has been across the sport his entire life. He is aware of the place to be on the sphere, and when to be there, and I’m not simply saying that as a result of I’m his father. He has pure instincts to see the sport. He does belongings you can’t train. They arrive naturally to him. They at all times have.”
Trotter Jr. will likely be competing with Nakobe Dean and Devin White for a starter’s spot. And he’ll compete, contemplating how skinny the Eagles are there. Dean has proven a penchant for not being wholesome sufficient to remain on the sphere, and White, recently, has had an issue the place to be when he’s on the sphere, particularly final season in Tampa Bay.
Andre Odom, Junior’s agent, is from Philadelphia. He attended Washington Excessive Faculty and Temple College. Personally, Odom couldn’t have been happier Junior the Eagles took his shopper.
“Junior is particular, he has at all times been particular and the Eagles will get him the No. 54 jersey,” Odom mentioned. “He desires to play. For myself as a fan, I’m elated this occurred. I grew up an Eagles’ fan and that continues to be constant to at the present time. It is a child that when you hit ‘play’ on the tape, he’s always making performs. He stands out. You watch Clemson play protection final yr, and you’d see No. 54 in all places. Jeremiah is a unique animal and the Eagles will discover that out. We received a steal within the fifth spherical. I say that as a result of I’m an Eagles’ fan. I really feel nice about Jeremiah’s scenario. He doesn’t acknowledge strain. He desires to be on the sphere. The Eagles are getting a really motivated younger man.”
After he grasps Fangio’s system, the one impediment Junior might want to modify to within the NFL is the pace of the sport, which he has handled efficiently at each degree of soccer he has performed.
“I wish to are available in and be one of the best participant I may be, earn the respect of my teammates and my coaches, and do no matter I can to assist my staff win,” mentioned Junior, who will carry his white Clemson Trotter’s Mother jersey with him to the NovaCare Advanced. “I’m okay across the 228-230 vary. I’ll see the place they need me. I really feel snug no matter weight they need me. I haven’t spoken to the Eagles about carrying No. 54, however will probably be a precedence. I really feel fairly good the Eagles will let me put on my dad’s quantity. I wish to put on 54. That’s the one quantity I’ve ever worn. I’ve not even thought of an alternative choice (laughs). I used to be taking part in quarterback and operating again on my (pee-wee) staff and wore 54.
“When a fan base like this fan base reveals a whole lot of love for you, you play that a lot more durable. The Eagles had been the staff I rooted for as a child, and I’m going to play more durable for this fan base being from the world. I wish to present this metropolis and this staff the love I’ve for them. I used to dream, truthfully, about in the future taking part in for the Eagles carrying the No. 54 in the future. My dad, my sister, Josiah and my uncles instructed me how proud they had been of me. I’ve a sense I could also be breaking down extra movie with my dad (laughs). I understand how to be knowledgeable and he trusts what I have to do. However he’s my dad. He’s at all times going to be my coach.”
Joseph Santoliquito is a corridor of fame, award-winning sportswriter based mostly within the Philadelphia space who has written function tales for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Inquirer/Every day Information. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for a particular mission piece for ESPN.com referred to as “Love at First Beep.” He’s most famous for his award-winning ESPN.com function on highschool wrestler A.J. Detwiler in February 2006, which appeared on SportsCenter. In 2015, he was elected president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
