WVU Football redshirt freshman linebacker Josiah Trotter boasts the most solo (27) and total tackles (58) for the Mountaineers this season, which he attributes to his family lineage of professional linebackers.

Trotter is the son of former All-Pro Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and brother to current Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Josiah Trotter spoke about how his father and uncle contribute to his career at WVU at a press conference this past August, saying his play style differs from his brother and father’s game, despite them all being physical on the gridiron.

“I feel like we all had different games, but we all take something from my dad that he really instilled in all of us, that physical part of the game and how they really played the game back in the day,” he said. “They did it in his time, and he really instilled in us. And just really how to not only play the run game, but how to destroy blockers and just be a linebacker and be a leader.”

Although Josiah Trotter missed the entire 2023-24 season with a knee injury, he was active in team meetings, often watching game films. He said he loves watching football and that watching films can give you “the answers to any test that you want.”

“Watching film is really up to you 'cause he [Jeremiah Trotter] can always tell us to do it, but you could just stare at it blankly and then just let it run. But watching film and watching football is always something I just love to do, especially watching film,” he said. “I feel like it really just gives you the answers to any test that you want, and it just sets you up for success.”

Josiah Trotter said he watched both good and bad plays while examining films but that focusing on the bad helps his game.

He said that even though his father constantly coaches him and his brother, the family spends plenty of time together outside of football.

“When we were younger, we watched a good amount of football games. … Try to also spend time outside of football, especially outside of football season, just not always talking about football,” he said. “There would be a few times we were watching games, and then “you see what the linebacker did right there”, or “what could he have done better?” So he's always constantly coaching us up or sending us videos about something that he sees or something we should try, whatever the case is.”’

Prior to the season, Josiah Trotter said he wanted to bring “physicality to West Virginia”. In eight games this season, he has made 58 total tackles while recording half a sack and an interception.

In WVU’s most recent matchup against the University of Arizona on Saturday, Josiah Trotter recorded four total tackles and a quarterback hit in a 31-26 victory.

WVU improved to 4-4, 3-2 in the Big 12 Conference after the win. The team will head into a bye week before returning to the gridiron on the road at the University of Cincinnati on Saturday, Nov. 9.