Tag: Jeremiah Trotter

Eagles land Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in Todd McShay’s early 2024 NFL draft first-round mock

Philadelphia Eagles land a familiar name in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in Todd McShay’s early 2024 NFL draft first-round predictions

In Todd McShay’s first 2024 NFL mock draft for ESPN, the rich get richer in a familiar way by drafting Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Philadelphia doesn’t typically draft linebackers this early, but Trotter Jr. is no ordinary player.

30. Philadelphia Eagles
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., ILB, Clemson*

Porter went to the team that drafted his dad back in 1999 (Pittsburgh) this year, so why not project Trotter to go to the team that selected his dad in 1998 next year? The younger Trotter is coming off a great season and could join Nakobe Dean to fill the hole left up the middle after the departures of T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White. He has great instincts and 6-foot, 230-pound size. He does it all.

The Tigers Preseason All-American is the son of former Philadelphia linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.

Drafted in the third round out of Stephen F. Austin University in 1998, Trotter was the Eagles’ starting middle linebacker by his second NFL season. From 1999-2001, Trotter led the team in tackles while being selected as a first-team All-Pro in 2000 and a second-teamer in 2001.

Trotter re-signed with the Eagles in 2004, helping Philadelphia reach their first Super Bowl since the 1980 season and making his third Pro Bowl appearance. He earned another Pro Bowl again in 2005 but was cut after the 2006 season.

Trotter Jr. had 91 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble last year at Clemson, and would give Sean Desai the three-down linebacker that most franchises can only dream about.

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The position battle that ‘probably will go all the way up until kickoff’

There’s an important position battle raging on within Clemson’s defense, and first-year defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin is going to take his time in deciding who ultimately prevails atop the depth chart. How much time exactly? “That spot …

There’s an important position battle raging on within Clemson’s defense, and first-year defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin is going to take his time in deciding who ultimately prevails atop the depth chart.

How much time exactly?

“That spot probably will go all the way up until kickoff,” Goodwin said, referencing the Tigers’ Labor Day opener against Georgia Tech.

The position he’s referring to is at the second level of the defense, where the search for James Skalski’s replacement at Mike linebacker continues. Two candidates are still in the running for the starting job.

Keith Maguire has the edge on experience heading into his junior season. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder has played in 28 games so far for the Tigers but has yet to start one. Goodwin said Maguire also brings a certain intangible to the position the same way Skalski did in his final couple of seasons as a starter.

“Keith has been really solid,” Goodwin said. “Great leader for us. He’s one of the vocal leaders of the group.”

But sophomore Jeremiah Trotter is still in the thick of the competition as well. The son of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the younger Trotter has been highly productive during competitive periods throughout preseason camp, said Goodwin, who noted Trotter has grown in his knowledge of the defense since being a limited contributor as a true freshman.

“I feel like he came in as an old man from that standpoint, his dad being a long-time NFL player,” Goodwin said. “Really, really smart beyond his years. Just learning the scheme and where his help is run-fit wise, what safety we’re using here and there. And from a zone-coverage standpoint, just getting better at playing with vision and that sort of stuff.”

Goodwin’s comments echoed those of head coach Dabo Swinney, who’s voiced confidence in whichever linebacker gets the starting nod. Swinney said he envisions a scenario where both get plenty of playing time regardless of who takes the field first inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, adding Lavonta Bentley and even Trenton Simpson, who are repping primarily at the Will position, could also take snaps there in certain packages.

“It’s going to be WWE tag team,” Swinney said earlier this month.

Goodwin is equally as confident in Maguire and Trotter, but one of them has to run out first against the Yellow Jackets.

“Really proud of where both of those guys are at,” Goodwin said. “I feel like both of them could run out there the first play and win for us. Excited about them.”

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Where do things stand with Mike linebacker competition?

Last month, Clemson defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin said he still had a handful of players listed as co-starters amid one of the unit’s most pressing position battles heading into preseason camp. “We’ll see how it all sorts out,” Goodwin said …

Last month, Clemson defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin said he still had a handful of players listed as co-starters amid one of the unit’s most pressing position battles heading into preseason camp.

“We’ll see how it all sorts out,” Goodwin said of the middle linebacker competition.

Head coach Dabo Swinney echoed Goodwin’s sentiment Friday, adding he doesn’t know if there’s going to be much separation between Lavonta Bentley, Keith Maguire and Jeremiah Trotter in the bid to replace multi-year starter and former team captain James Skalski at that spot.

As Swinney sees it, that shouldn’t be viewed as a negative. Even Trenton Simpson, who’s making the transition from the Sam, or nickel, position to the Will ‘backer spot, could line up at Mike in certain packages.

“They all can play,” Swinney said Friday. “Lavonta Bentley, as a redshirt junior, that’s a bad dude right there. He’s a grown man. … But Trotter, Maguire, Bentley and Trenton Simpson, you can just throw them up in the air.”

Swinney said there’s still a “long way to go” before deciding which one runs out as the starter against Georgia Tech on Labor Day night, but the Tigers could end up taking a committee approach at the position during the course of the season.

“I do know this: If all them guys are healthy, they’re going to play,” Swinney said. “I don’t see them standing on the sidelines. It’s going to be WWE tag team. All right, I’ve got you. I’m in. I’m out. And that’s what you want, man.”

Having played 254 defensive snaps in his three seasons with the Tigers, Bentley has the most game experience of the primary trio. Maguire, also a fourth-year junior, isn’t far behind at 207 snaps in 28 career games. Trotter is the youngest as a true sophomore, but Swinney has praised the former blue-chip signee as one of the most instinctive linebackers he’s ever had at Clemson.

“They have great knowledge. They just need to continue to get that experience,” Goodwin said. “But I feel like all of those guys tackle well, they see things fast, they react fast, they have great leadership and communication skills on the field. So it’s just now their turn to go do it.”

Dear Old Clemson has added to the store posters signed by all 20 members of Clemson’s 2022 football class.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

What we learned about Clemson’s defense this spring

The dust on Clemson’s spring football season has been settling for more than a week following the team’s annual Orange and White game on April 9. Based on limited practice access and feedback from coaches and players, The Clemson Insider is taking …

The dust on Clemson’s spring football season has been settling for more than a week following the team’s annual Orange and White game on April 9.

Based on limited practice access and feedback from coaches and players, The Clemson Insider is taking inventory of the offense, defense and special teams heading into the summer. Thoughts on the offense are here.

Here’s what we learned about the defense after the Tigers’ 15 spring practices:

Defensive line deeper than initially thought

With the entire two-deep returning up front, Clemson’s defensive line is going to be good next season. Like, maybe best-in-the-country good.

But even more potential contributors emerged this spring, making the line deeper than initially thought.

Clemson already has Myles Murphy, Xavier Thomas, KJ Henry and Justin Mascoll topping the depth chart at defensive end, but position coach Lemanski Hall said this spring he would also be comfortable putting converted linebacker Kevin Swint and Greg Williams in a game right now. How often those two will actually get on the field this fall is hard to say given all of the high-end talent that’s ahead of them, but their emergence makes the Tigers three-deep at both spots.

On the interior, Payton Page got plenty of first-team reps in the spring game and is in line to be a bigger part of the tackle rotation behind Bryan Bresee, Ruke Orhorhoro, Tre Williams and Etinosa Reuben. The same goes for fellow sophomore Demonte Capehart, who was limited by injuries last season but, by all accounts, had a solid spring.

There’s no such thing as having too many linemen when playing in the trenches more frequently results in injuries, so Clemson is in an even better spot at the position coming out of the spring than it was going into it.

There’s still competition in the middle

While Trenton Simpson’s move from the Sam/nickel spot (and Barrett Carter’s insertion there) fills the void left by Baylon Spector on the weak side, there wasn’t much clarity on the competition to replace James Skalski at middle linebacker.

When asked about the position this spring, Swinney and first-year defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin (who doubles as the linebackers coach) said Lavonta Bentley, Keith Maguire and Jeremiah Trotter were all rotating there with no one doing much separating among the trio.

It’s always risky to read too much in to spring games, but if you’re looking for any possible clues, Maguire got the start for the Orange team and finished tied for the team lead with seven tackles. Bentley, who could play Mike or Will, had two tackles and moved well in space, finishing with a pair of pass breakups.

Simpson even got some reps in the middle at times this spring, but it’ll be either Bentley, Maguire or Trotter that runs out for the first snap at middle linebacker when Clemson opens the season against Georgia Tech. Bentley and Maguire, both juniors, have the edge when it comes to experience, but…

Trotter is a real factor at linebacker

Trotter was a five-star recruit in Clemson’s 2021 signing class. And as the son of former NFL All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, there’s a lot to like about the 6-foot, 225-pounder’s physical talent and bloodlines.

But the younger Trotter also received plenty of praise from Swinney this spring for his football IQ. Swinney said during the ACC Network’s broadcast of the spring game that Trotter is “one of the most instinctive, natural kids that we’ve ever had come play this position.”

Trotter earned the start for the White team and flashed the cerebral part of his game early, putting himself in position to knock away a pass intended for receiver Drew Swinney on the Orange team’s second possession. He also had three tackles.

Is it likely? That’s hard to say for anyone in this competition, but don’t be surprised if Trotter gets the starting nod against Georgia Tech.

The secondary will (probably) be OK

With Nolan Turner, Mario Goodrich and Andrew Booth all hoping to hear their names called in the NFL Draft later this month (and backup safety Joseph Charleston transferring), the secondary was hit hard by attrition, understandably leaving questions for the back end of the defense to start trying to answer heading into the spring.

All things considered, though, the unit exited the spring in a good spot.

Clemson will be much younger at cornerback with three of the scholarship players at that position next season (Jeadyn Lukus, Toriano Pride and Myles Oliver) being true freshmen. But rising senior Sheridan Jones is in line to take over as a full-time starter after biding his time, and Nate Wiggins took the kind of step that was expected in his development this spring going from Year 1 to Year 2, Swinney said.

Rising junior Fred Davis is also back as is Malcolm Greene, who’s primarily played nickel in his first two seasons at Clemson but could also play on the outside. Meanwhile, Swinney said he saw enough from Lukus and Pride this spring to know they’ll be able to help immediately this fall. Pride had a pick-six in a scrimmage and drew the start for the Orange team in the spring game, finishing with seven tackles and two pass breakups.

Jalyn Phillips, another senior, is set to fill the void left by Turner at free safety after starting six games there a season ago. R.J. Mickens and Tyler Venables are also returning to provide depth at the position.

And then there’s perhaps Clemson’s most versatile defensive back, Andrew Mukuba, a freshman All-American at strong safety last season that the Tigers plan to play a little bit of everywhere in the secondary this fall. Given the low numbers because of injuries, Mukuba lined up at corner in the spring game and looked like a natural, finishing with five tackles and two pass breakups.

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Clemson’s competition rages on at mike linebacker

The battle to replace James Skalski in the middle of Clemson’s defense continues. Nine spring practices in, and there’s been little separation among those competing for the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker, a position Skalski manned …

The battle to replace James Skalski in the middle of Clemson’s defense continues.

Nine spring practices in, and there’s been little separation among those competing for the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker, a position Skalski manned the last three seasons. Skalski led Clemson in tackles last season, but after six years with the program – and more than 1,900 snaps over 69 career games – he’s exhausted his eligibility.

That has left a massive void at the second level of the defense for first-year coordinator Wesley Goodwin to work on filling. Even with additional attrition, there’s no shortage of viable candidates.

Clemson lost its top three mike linebackers off last year’s depth chart when Kane Patterson (transfer to Vanderbilt) and Jake Venables (stepping away from football) opted not to return next season. But rising juniors LaVonta Bentley and Keith Maguire are still around and have gotten the majority of the first-team reps this spring, Goodwin said.

Bentley and Maguire, who have combined to play in 55 games at Clemson, are among the most experienced ‘backers still on the roster. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the coaching staff is close to making any long-term decisions at the position.

“Just mixing and matching guys, per se,” Goodwin said. “It’s been a great competition. We’ll see how it all works out, but all of those guys in the linebacker room have been great. They’re unselfish. They’re team guys. They’re learning to play every day with more confidence and being more vocal.”

In fact, the number of options appears to be expanding. Goodwin said rising sophomore Jeremiah Trotter, a former blue-chip recruit who contributed primarily on special teams last season, has progressed to the point that he is legitimately competing for a starting job.

Even Trenton Simpson is splitting time between the mike and will, where he was initially moved at the start of the spring after starting 12 games at the strongside ‘backer position last season. Simpson, who finished second on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6) last season as a premier edge rusher, made the move to replace another departing member of the linebacking corps, Baylon Spector, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney hinted that Simpson has also gotten his fair share of reps in the middle.

“We’re rolling those first four guys pretty consistently,” Swinney said. “Maguire, Trotter, LaVonta and Simpson, those four are kind of splitting all of those reps, competing, battling and doing a good job.”

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Taking inventory: Linebacker

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead. With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand …

Clemson still has a bowl game left to play this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

With the regular season in the books, TCI is taking some time to analyze how the Tigers performed at each position this fall and where the Tigers stand with each as the offseason quickly approaches. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receiver, center, guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end have already been assessed.

Next up is linebacker.

A quick note first: This is where things currently stand with Clemson’s personnel at linebacker. With the one-time transfer rule and recruiting still in full effect, things are always subject to change. This story will be updated as needed to reflect any future modifications at the position.

2021 in review

Clemson began the season with its Bruise Brothers still intact. Will it stay that way after the bowl game?

It will be the final game in a Clemson uniform for James Skalski, a sixth-year senior who’s roamed the middle of the Tigers’ defense as a starter for the last few seasons. His sidekicker, weak-side linebacker Baylon Spector, has been around for five seasons.

The duo ended the regular season as Clemson’s leading tacklers. Skalski is sitting on a team-best 97 tackles, including some timely goal-line stops late against Georgia Tech and Louisville. He also leads the Tigers with 14 quarterback hurries. Spector isn’t far off that pace with 85 tackles.

Throw in strong-side ‘backer Trenton Simpson, and Clemson’s three leading tacklers all reside at the second level of the defense. Perhaps the most athletic and versatile of the trio, Simpson has 72 tackles, six sacks and 12 tackles for loss (second-most on the team) in his first year as a full-time starter.

Simpson is a true sophomore, so he’s in line to return. The Tigers will need a new middle linebacker with Skalski out of eligibility, but does Spector, who recently underwent hand surgery and won’t play in the bowl, stay or go? He still has a COVID year to use if he chooses to do so.

Clemson has some depth at the position, though not as much as it did at the beginning of the season.

There weren’t many extra snaps to go around considering how much Skalski, Spector and Simpson have stayed on the field – none of them have logged fewer than 516 snaps this season – but sophomore LaVonta Bentley has gotten as much work as any of the backups (145 snaps). Bentley, who has already filled in for Spector once on the weak side, could be auditioning for a starting job next season in the bowl game.

True freshman Barrett Carter logged 147 snaps during the regular season as Simpson’s primary backup. Jake Venables, Kane Patterson, Keith McGuire, Sergio Allen and another freshman, Jeremiah Trotter, have gotten some reps here and there, but Patterson is transferring to Vanderbilt. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Venables, a junior, also won’t be returning to the program as a player next season.

The group will certainly look different next season. The question at his point is how much different?

Who’s leaving?

Skalski, Spector (maybe), Patterson, Venables

Who’s staying?

Simpson, Spector (maybe), Bentley, McGuire, Allen, Carter, Trotter

Who’s joining?

Jesuit (Florida) High three-star signee Wade Woodaz. Clemson’s other linebacker commitment for the 2022 recruiting cycle, Hays (Kansas) High standout Jaren Kanak, recently decommitted and has already enrolled at Oklahoma, where former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is now the head coach.

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Clemson freshman not shy about tapping into NFL bloodlines

Before donning the purple and orange, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had already started making a name for himself. Trotter was one of the most coveted recruits in the 2021 recruiting cycle coming out of St. Joseph’s (Pennsylvania) Prep. Ranked the nation’s …

Before donning the purple and orange, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had already started making a name for himself.

Trotter was one of the most coveted recruits in the 2021 recruiting cycle coming out of St. Joseph’s (Pennsylvania) Prep. Ranked the nation’s top linebacker prospect and No. 7 overall recruit by ESPN, Trotter had his pick of colleges when it came to continuing his football career.

But not many had a realistic chance at him after he visited Clemson for a camp during his junior season. Trotter committed to the Tigers later in 2019, citing the program’s culture and values as the primary reasons he pulled the trigger for Clemson and never wavered for more than a year before he could sign his National Letter of Intent.

“They had a lot of stuff that I was looking for as far as a brotherhood,” Trotter said. “Everybody is helping each other out. As soon as I got here, (senior linebacker) James Skalski, he helped me learn the playbook. And (fellow linebacker) Baylon Spector. They’re helping me out.

“Then just the coaches. They love their players. They really care about their players whether you’re a walk-on or the starter. They’re going to show the same interest to you and make sure you’re handling your business.”

Trotter also has another resource that’s not privy to everyone.

If Trotter’s name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s one football fans have heard plenty of times before. Trotter’s father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., played the same position in the NFL for 12 years, most of those with the Philadelphia Eagles, and was a four-time Pro Bowler before retiring following the 2009 season.

The younger Trotter said his dad stayed in the background of his career when it came to pushing him to play football and coaching him once he decided he wanted to. And other than “some tips on what to look for and whatnot,” Trotter said his dad didn’t get all that involved in his recruitment.

“He let me decide on where I wanted to go,” Trotter said.

But Trotter said his father still gives him on-field pointers here and there that he tries to incorporate into his game. The younger Trotter debuted for the Tigers as a special-teams contributor against Georgia before getting his first meaningful defensive snaps last week.

Trotter tied for the team lead with five tackles and notched his first collegiate sack in Clemson’s 49-3 pasting of South Carolina State. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said the game comes naturally to his freshman linebacker, which isn’t a surprise given Trotter’s football bloodlines.

But there’s still plenty for the youngster to learn as he goes through his first season of college football, which is why he’d be foolish not to listen to advice from a father who racked up 914 tackles at the highest level of the sport.

“I try to listen to him, too, because I know what he’s done and what he’s accomplished,” Trotter said. “I try to take that all in.

“It feels great to be able to ask questions and get tips small tips that not everybody has access to, and I try to soak it all up and just try to use it out there on the field wherever I need to.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Alex Singleton guarantees he’ll break the Eagles single-season record for tackles in 2021

Alex Singleton guarantees he’ll break the Eagles single-season tackles record in 2021

Tackles are the one statistic in football that has taken some time to fully grade and keep up with and it’s constantly debated.

You can see who completes a pass or breaks off a long run, but it can sometimes be difficult to properly score a tackle (solo/combo) and it’s something that the NFL has been working to perfect since 1994.

During a recent appearance on The Wooderboys Podcast, Singleton and the guys discussed his performance from 2020, when the talented linebacker guaranteed he’d shatter the Eagles’ single-season record for tackles.

During the 1988 NFL season, Reggie White logged 18 sacks and 133 combined tackles from his defensive end position.

Ray Lewis leads the NFL in the single-season tackles category, logging 156 during the 1997 season in Baltimore.