Trotter, Jr. Experiencing All Kinds of Reunions in Philly
By: will-vandervort April 29, 2024

Saturday was a day for reunions for former Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr.

First, he found out he was selected by his dad’s former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, in the fifth round, while at the same time reuniting with a former Clemson teammate. The Eagles had already drafted former Tigers running back Will Shipley back in the fourth round.

“The Eagles definitely got a really great player with him, and I am glad we are going to be reunited in Philadelphia and continue to be teammates,” Trotter said to the media via the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia took Shipley with the 127th overall pick. Twenty-eight picks later they snagged Trotter, whose father, Jeremiah Trotter, Sr., was drafted by the Eagles in 1998 and played eight seasons there in three different stints – 1998-’01, 2004-’06 and 2009.

Trotter, Sr., is one of the more beloved Eagles in the franchise’s history.

When the call came in Saturday afternoon, on the way home from his younger brother’s spring game, Trotter, Jr., noticed the identification call on his phone had a (Pennsylvania) tag.

“I immediately knew who it was going to be,” Trotter, Jr. said. “I was super happy. My dad was such in tears and my uncle and aunt were giving me hugs and everything. I was just super happy and super grateful for the opportunity. It was definitely an emotional moment.”

Trotter says it means a lot to follow in his dad’s footsteps at Philadelphia. The older Trotter is in the Eagles’ Hall of Fame after multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons, while helping the franchise advance to its first Super Bowl in 24 years in 2004.

“I know the type of legacy he left with this organization and the fans, just how they treat him and the coaches he played for and the players he has played with for the Eagles,” Trotter, Jr. said. “It definitely means a lot to come in and try to continue that legacy and help out the team in any way that I can.

“I am a hometown kid, and the Eagles were always my favorite team growing up, so it is definitely great to have the opportunity that I have.”

Trotter, Jr., left his own legacy in Clemson.

The former Tiger collected second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, third-team All-America status from Pro Football Focus and All-ACC honors from select individual outlets in 2022.

In 2023, he again earned All-America status from numerous outlets and was a Butkus Award finalist before declaring for the draft.

Last season, Trotter was credited with a team-high 88 tackles, a team-best 15.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two interceptions (including a pick-six) over 12 games as a junior.

Trotter Jr. finished his Clemson career with 202 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 13 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and four interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns) over 39 career games from 2021-’23.

“He was born to play linebacker. He is a very, very high football IQ player and one of those guys that will have a chance to impact his team early,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s got great instincts and great football IQ, and he can run, and he can play special teams.

“He is a guy that, day one, when he shows up as a rookie, the other pros will think, ‘This guy has been in the league a while,’ because that’s how he carries himself. He won’t be overwhelmed. He’s well-prepared to not just go make their team but really shine.”

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