Which Pro Football HOFer Serves as Mentor to WVU LB Josiah Trotter?

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Thanks to being the son of a former NFL All-Pro father, Josiah Trotter was blessed growing up around legends of the game. But beyond his dad, there’s one former NFL star who became a mentor figure to the WVU linebacker.

While talking with the media ahead of the 2024 season, Trotter revealed he’s developed a close relationship with Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins. Jeremiah Trotter and Dawkins spent several seasons as teammates on the Philadelphia Eagles, highlighted by a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX.

Despite playing different positions, Trotter then added that he attempts to model his game after Dawkins, most notably for his aggressiveness.

WVU LB Josiah Trotter says Pro Football
Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins is a mentor of his.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) August 9, 2024

Josiah Trotter also made it clear that he embraces being part of a strong football family and every everything that comes with his last name. He’s just used to the natural comparisons at this point.

As he hopes to finally show what he can do as a Mountaineer, Trotter touched on what it’s like being the son of former NFL All-Pro Jeremiah Trotter and even the brother of Clemson star and current NFL rookie Jeremiah Jr

The redshirt freshman explained the one big life lesson he’s learned from his dad. “Work ethic. How you carry yourself every day. Make sure you leave your mark,” he said.

Trotter also mentioned that while most expected him to follow his brother to Clemson, he wanted to carve his own path. He said he picked WVU over offers from major programs like Ohio State and Clemson due to feeling the Mountaineers really wanted him and he would fit perfectly in the defensive system.

“I wanted to go somewhere that really wanted me for me. I took a visit, fell in love with it, and how the fans love the team.”

Back to his family, Trotter said he was young and doesn’t remember too much from his dad’s NFL career. He has, however, seen the highlights and heard the stories.

Trotter, who missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a leg injury during spring practice one year ago, is gearing up to finally live up to the hype in 2024.

West Virginia head coach Neal Brown raved about Trotter and the immediate impact he could have up while watching him at practice last year. Brown was then let gutted and devastated when he learned the three-star recruit’s Mountaineer career would be delayed. With Trotter now finally back out on the practice field, Brown is once again predicting big things from Trotter.

Asti: Look for WVU LB Josiah Trotter to Make Immediate Impact

Largely based on having Trotter healthy and getting Trey Lathan back, Brown even said he feels the linebacker room is the deepest it’s been since he arrived in Morgantown in 2019. Brown’s sentiments were echoed by defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley.

“Getting (Josiah) Trotter back and Trey (Lathan) back, it’s the deepest we’ve been at linebacker the whole time,” said Lesley while speaking to the media after an early spring practice.

And speaking of Lathan returning from a surgery of his own, he made sure to praise Trotter as well. Lathan called Trotter a “dog” before going as far as labeling him the player who has the “biggest upside” on the defense.

So while what kind of player Trotter will be in college is still an unknown, he’s doing his part to impress at practice and earn playing time. It’s even possible the fact there’s no game film on Trotter will allow him to sneak up on opponents this fall.

A top recruit out of St. Joe’s Prep in Philadelphia, Pa., Trotter was viewed as one of the premier pieces of WVU’s 2023 recruiting class. Listed at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds, Trotter officially signed with the Mountaineers in December of 2022.