“He’s Very Vocal With His Pads”
September 6th, 2026
How unique is Bucs inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, Tampa Bay’s Round 2 draft pick back in April?
Nobody knows completely because the season is a week away and Trotter barely played in preseason. However, Trotter stands out in one way, per Todd Bowles, because he’s a 21-year-old who won over veteran players in a hurry.
So how did he do it, Coach?
“His physicality on the field, not just his physicality, but him getting in the playbook and keeping his mouth shut,” Bowles said of Trotter on The Rondé Barber Show. “But when he’s out [on the field,] he’s very vocal with his pads and he’s always in the right place. And you’re not really carrying him; he’s carrying his own weight and he’s making an impact. And everybody’s like, ‘Whoa, this guy.’ He opened the eyes of the vets the first couple of times we were in pads, and that was kind of the end of it.”
Bowles added that despite Trotter having a “baby face,” he’s built in the mold of superheroes Thor or Ironman. That’s got to help how he’s perceived by teammates.
Joe is very excited about Trotter, but Joe will be even more excited if Trotter passes the extreme test of the Bengals and Joe Burrow next Sunday. They’re sure to attack Trotter a few times to see if his coverage skills are NFL-ready.