The Clemson Tigers are losing one of their best players to the 2024 NFL draft, Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Trotter started all 12 games on the Clemson defense this season, ranking first on the team in tackles (87), tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (5.5). He had a phenomenal season, which should help his draft stock. We could see a phenomenal linebacker drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
How good was he, really? Well, he was good enough for ESPN to rank him as the Tigers’ MVP from the 2023 season.
The Tigers didn’t have the season they envisioned, splitting their first eight games before an 8-4 overall finish. Clemson’s defense wasn’t as stifling as it has been in past years, but Trotter met expectations with another All-America season. A second-team AP All-America selection in 2022, Trotter received several first-team honors and was a finalist for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. He started every regular-season game before declaring for the NFL draft, and led Clemson in total tackles (88), tackles for loss (15) and sacks (5.5) through the regular season.
Trotter had a fantastic career with the Tigers, even if the team didn’t reach the heights they wanted to, with him leading the defense. Many factors went into it, but Trotter was a guy who showed up and gave his all every game.
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter is next up for this defense.