Washington Hosting West Virginia LB Trotter

According a report from ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Washington is one of two schools expected to host West Virginia redshirt freshman linebacker Josiah Trotter. 

Trotter, a 6-foot-2, 238-pound Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year for the Mountaineers in 2024, is the younger son of 11-year NFL veteran Jeremiah Trotter, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1998-2001, 2004-06, 2009), Washington Redskins (2002-03) and a brief 3-game stint in 2007 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before ending his career with the Eagles. 

The former four-star recruit out of St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.) in the 2023 class arrived in Seattle on Thursday to begin his official visit to UW and is expected to remain in the Evergreen State through Friday night.

In between the original report by ESPN and Trotter landing in the Emerald City, the Huskies have seen uncertainly loom with current defensive coordinator Steve Belichick expected to join his father Bill Belichick at North Carolina beginning in January after the conclusion of the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, and WVU hiring former coach Rich Rodriguez to replace fired coach Neal Brown.  

After missing the 2023 season due to a knee injury Trotter emerged on the field for the Mountaineers this past fall with 92 total tackles (36 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 0.5 sacks in 12 games, earning freshman of the year honors for his efforts. 

Although Trotter has been removed from the official WVU football roster reports have indicated the redshirt freshman could be open to a return to Morgantown under Rodriguez, though the linebacker himself has made no public announcement to remove himself from the transfer portal as of Friday afternoon. 

With UW graduating three players at linebacker — Carson Bruener, Alphonzo Tuputala and Drew Fowler — after the Sun Bowl there is a need for inside linebackers coach Robert Bala to replenish the position group going into the 2025 season. 

Trotter would have three seasons of eligibility remaining at his next school or if he chooses to return to WVU.