BuccaneersFan.com • Player Spotlight • Tampa Bay No. 45
Current official roster portrait: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Inside linebacker • 2026 rookie
A new voice in the middle
Josiah Trotter
- Born
- April 15, 2005 • Age 21
- Hometown
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Listed size
- 6 feet 2 inches • 237 pounds
- High school
- Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- College
- West Virginia • 2023–2024
Missouri • 2025 - NFL entry
- 2026 • Round 2 • Pick 46 • Tampa Bay
- Buccaneers career
- 2026–present
- Jersey
- No. 45
- Current status
- Active roster • As of November 3, 2026
Birthdate and background: Missouri player biography and West Virginia player biography. Current listing: official Buccaneers profile and current roster.
Milestone sources: original draft announcement, debut report and the original NFL and college records below. NFL statistics stop after November 1, 2026.
The football posters in Josiah Trotter’s childhood bedroom featured his father. Before he had an NFL locker of his own, the young linebacker had someone close to home to study. Trotter on growing up around the game. In Tampa Bay, that familiar surname has a new voice attached to it: a rookie learning to direct a defense while building a career of his own.
Philadelphia • West Virginia • Missouri
A setback, a breakthrough and a second proving ground
The Philadelphia beginning Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School.
Trotter was a two-time all-state selection and helped Saint Joseph’s Prep win two Pennsylvania Class 6A championships. The next move took him from Philadelphia to West Virginia. The Mountaineers’ high-school record.
A choice, then a long wait West Virginia, 2023–2024.
Trotter credited the persistent recruiting contact of Jeff Koonz with helping him choose West Virginia. His account of that connection. A spring injury in 2023 cost him his first season. West Virginia’s season biography. His return in 2024 produced a conference freshman award and his first full college playing season.
A second college proving ground Missouri, 2025.
After transferring to Missouri, Trotter played his final college season with the Tigers and earned recognition from both SEC coaches and the Associated Press. Missouri’s final player biography. His complete two-school record appears below, with the nonplaying redshirt year explained separately.
The call from Tampa Bay Round 2 • Pick 46 • April 24, 2026.
The Buccaneers selected Trotter 46th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team’s draft announcement. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 21. The official transaction record and contract announcement. Tampa Bay became the next stop in a journey that had already required patience and a successful return to the field.
Recognition along the way
A freshman breakthrough West Virginia, 2024.
The Big 12 coaches chose Trotter as Defensive Freshman of the Year, making him the first Mountaineer to receive that conference award. The contemporary Big 12 honors announcement. He also earned FWAA Freshman All-America recognition. The college honors record.
Conference honors at Missouri All-SEC, 2025.
Trotter earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches and second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press. The separate selections recognize the same final college season. Missouri’s postseason honors listing.
September 13, 2026 • Paycor Stadium • Cincinnati
Thirty-eight yards into Buccaneers history
First NFL game • First NFL touchdown
38
YARDS • INTERCEPTION RETURN
Buccaneers 27 • Bengals 33
A sack and a pick-six in his regular-season debut.
Trotter sacked Joe Burrow for a nine-yard loss at 10:55 of the third quarter. Later, a play beginning at 2:24 became his first touchdown: he intercepted Burrow’s pass for Andrei Iosivas and returned it 38 yards, scoring at 2:16. Third-quarter play sequence.
The read had a practice-field beginning. Inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell had asked Trotter to widen his position in that coverage. In Cincinnati, the rookie applied the correction and found the passing lane. The Buccaneers’ account of the adjustment.
Tampa Bay identified him as the first Buccaneer to return an interception for a touchdown in his NFL debut. The team’s debut milestone report. Cincinnati won, but No. 45 had supplied a memorable first chapter.
Tampa Bay • 2026–present
Tampa Bay in 2026
Trotter is on the Active roster as Tampa Bay’s No. 45 linebacker as of November 3, 2026. The current Buccaneers roster. The Week 9 depth chart lists him first at one inside-linebacker position, with veteran Alex Anzalone at the other. The November 3 depth chart.
In an August interview, Trotter described the importance of learning small details and making defensive calls with conviction. Anzalone’s experience gave him someone to learn from while adjusting to those responsibilities. Trotter on finding his voice. The game-by-game record below distinguishes his reserve debut, subsequent starts and inactive week.
The person behind No. 45
Beyond the stat sheet
Trotter studied business during college. Missouri’s academic listing. His public interviews also offer a few glimpses of the person away from the huddle.
The family connection to Tampa Bay A familiar name, a career of his own.
His father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., made four Pro Bowls, entered the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2016 and played three games for the Buccaneers in 2007. The Buccaneers’ family background. Older brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr. played at Clemson before Philadelphia selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The official family biography.
Football games and a favorite collectible Interests shared in July 2026.
In the Buccaneers’ get-to-know interview, Trotter named Madden 18 as his favorite video game and The Program as his favorite movie. He also recalled collecting Pokémon cards, with Pikachu his favorite. The original rookie Q&A.
NFL regular season • Career through 2026
The NFL career record
These records cover Trotter’s 2026 rookie regular season, which is also his entire NFL regular-season career at this update. The asterisk marks the incomplete season, through November 1, Week 8. All appearances came with Tampa Bay.
| Season | G | GS | DEF Solo | DEF Ast | DEF TKL | ST Solo | ST Ast | ST TKL | TFL | QB hits | Sacks | Sack YDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 7 | 6 | 30 | 32 | 62 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 9.0 |
| NFL career | 7 | 6 | 30 | 32 | 62 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 9.0 |
G = games played; GS = starts; DEF = defense; ST = special teams. Solo + Ast = TKL within each phase. TFL includes sacks; QB hits and Sack YDS retain their original categories.
The original gamebooks credit 62 defensive tackles and six special-teams tackles. Their sum is the 68 combined tackles displayed on the team profile. The tables preserve each phase and its solo/assist split.
| Season | PD | INT | INT YDS | INT AVG | INT LNG | INT TD | FF | Opp FR | FR YDS | FR TD | Own FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 3 | 1 | 38 | 38.0 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFL career | 3 | 1 | 38 | 38.0 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PD = passes defensed, including interceptions; FF = forced fumbles. Opp FR and Own FR distinguish recovered opponent and teammate fumbles. FR YDS and FR TD describe opponent-fumble returns. INT AVG is yards divided by interceptions; INT LNG is the longest return; BLK = blocked kicks. Trotter has no regular-season safety through the cutoff.
NFL postseason
Trotter has no NFL postseason appearances at this update. The 2026 postseason had not begun; preseason games are excluded throughout.
September 13–November 1, 2026
Seven appearances and six starts through Week 8
| Week | Date | Opponent | TB result | Status | G | GS | DEF Solo | DEF Ast | DEF TKL | ST TKL | TFL | QB hits | Sacks | PD | INT | DEF snaps | ST snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 13 | @CIN | L 27–33 | Reserve | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 58 | 12 |
| 2 | Sep 20 | CLE | L 19–23 | Starter | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 9 |
| 3 | Sep 27 | MIN | L 16–23 | Inactive | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Oct 4 | GB | L 14–17 | Starter | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 6 |
| 5 | Oct 8 | @DAL | W 24–16 | Starter | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 7 |
| 6 | Oct 18 | PIT | L 19–26 OT | Starter | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 79 | 10 |
| 7 | Oct 25 | @CAR | W 43–13 | Starter | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 8 |
| 8 | Nov 1 | ATL | W 16–0 | Starter | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 6 |
| 2026 total | Through Nov 1 | Tampa Bay | — | 7 appearances | 7 | 6 | 30 | 32 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | 393 | 58 |
He was inactive against Minnesota in Week 3. That row records team context, with dashes for performance; it is not a zero-stat appearance.
His one sack and one interception came in the debut; that interception was returned 38 yards for a touchdown. No other appearance adds a sack or interception.
Results are from Tampa Bay’s perspective; @ = away; OT = overtime. CIN = Cincinnati; CLE = Cleveland; MIN = Minnesota; GB = Green Bay; DAL = Dallas; PIT = Pittsburgh; CAR = Carolina; ATL = Atlanta.
Original final gamebooks: Week 1 · Week 2 · Week 3 · Week 4 · Week 5 · Week 6 · Week 7 · Week 8.
West Virginia • Missouri • 2024–2025
The college record
Trotter’s actual playing seasons were West Virginia in 2024 and Missouri in 2025. The two NCAA Division I FBS programs supply separate annual records; college totals are kept apart from NFL totals.
| Season | School | G | GS | Solo | Ast | TKL | TFL | TFL YDS | Sacks | Sack YDS | QB hurries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | West Virginia | 12 | 11 | 36 | 56 | 92 | 4.0 | 9 | 0.5 | 4 | 5 |
| 2025 | Missouri | 12 | 12 | 43 | 41 | 84 | 13.0 | 41 | 2.0 | 8 | 7 |
| College career | Both schools | 24 | 23 | 79 | 97 | 176 | 17.0 | 50 | 2.5 | 12 | 12 |
G = games played; GS = starts; Solo + Ast = TKL. TFL includes sacks; TFL YDS and Sack YDS record credited yards lost. Shared sacks are retained. QB hurries follow the original statistical reports; separately charted coach-film pressures are a different measure.
Original defensive records: 2024 final defense, PDF p. 7 · 2025 final defense, PDF p. 5.
Original participation charts: 2024 participation, PDF p. 26 · 2025 participation, PDF p. 14.
West Virginia: 12 games, 11 starts and 92 tackles. Missouri: 12 games, 12 starts and 84 tackles. Together: 24 games, 23 starts, 176 tackles.
| Season | School | PBU | INT | PD | INT YDS | INT AVG | INT LNG | INT TD | FF | FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | West Virginia | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Missouri | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| College career | Both schools | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PBU = passes broken up; INT = interceptions; PD = PBU + INT. INT YDS, AVG, LNG and TD describe interception returns. AVG is total yards divided by interceptions; LNG is the longest return. A dash means no interception return applies. FF = forced fumbles; FR = fumble recoveries; BLK = blocked kicks.
Original return records: 2024 returns, PDF p. 4 · 2025 returns, PDF p. 2. The annual reports credit no individual punt or kickoff return, fumble-recovery return or safety.
Redshirt year and college postseason
Trotter did not play in 2023, including West Virginia’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The original 2023 participation chart confirms the nonplaying year. It is not counted as an actual season in the tables.
He also did not appear in the 2024 Frisco Bowl or the 2025 Gator Bowl. The West Virginia game log and Gator Bowl participation list establish those absences. There are no college postseason appearances to add to, or break out from, his career totals.
Sources & statistical notes
The records behind the spotlight
- Identity and education: current Buccaneers profile, Missouri biography and West Virginia biography.
- Journey and recognition: West Virginia recruiting account, Big 12 award announcement, Missouri honors listing, NFL draft announcement and official transactions.
- Family, personality and debut: family background, rookie communication interview, get-to-know conversation, debut play breakdown and milestone report.
- NFL statistics: Eight original final gamebooks establish seven appearances, one inactive week, defensive and special-teams tackle credits, pass defense and unofficial playtime. The rookie-season and regular-season career totals are identical at this cutoff.
- College statistics: Original West Virginia and Missouri annual statistical reports and participation charts, plus the Gator Bowl participation record. The 2023 nonplaying year and three bowl nonappearances are excluded from actual-game totals.
- Portrait: the current official Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster image.
Updated November 3, 2026. NFL regular-season statistics stop after November 1, Week 8; preseason is excluded. NFL postseason is separate from regular-season totals. The two college playing seasons contain no actual postseason appearances. The 2023 nonplaying season is explained separately. NFL defensive and special-teams tackles are separate. College pass breakups and interception-inclusive passes defensed are distinguished. Snap counts are labeled by source.