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Buccaneers Rookie LB Josiah Trotter Predicted to Make Pro Bowl
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- Buccaneers Rookie LB Josiah Trotter Predicted to Make Pro Bowl
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were expected to have a defensive rookie who would immediately have success in the NFL and possibly make the Pro Bowl in his first season.
It wasn't expected to be linebacker Josiah Trotter.
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It was supposed to be first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr., who, despite being possibly the draft's best pass rusher, fell into Tampa's lap with the 15th pick.
Bain's outstanding offseason sent expectations for his rookie season through the roof, and he quickly became the favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
However, Bain has played in three of Tampa's five games, missing Weeks 3 and 4 with shoulder and groin injuries, and has yet to make an impact. In fact, it has been nearly impossible to notice him on the field.
Luckily for the Bucs, Trotter, selected in the second round, has made up for Bain's lack of impact.
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Trotter made his presence felt immediately. He became the first player in history to record both a pick-six and a sack in his NFL debut.
Trotter hasn't looked back since.
In four games (he missed Week 3 against the Vikings), Trotter has already racked up 41 total tackles and has been the best player in Tampa's revamped defensive front seven.
The son of Philadelphia Eagles four-time Pro Bowl LB Jeremiah Trotter, the 21-year-old hasn't taken long to prove his family bloodline hasn't lost any of its potency.
In fact, Trotter has been so impressive that ESPN is now predicting that the rookie will make the Pro Bowl this season.
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Out With The Old Prediction, In With The New
Before the season began, ESPN made one bold prediction for each NFL team. For the Bucs, the prediction was that WR Chris Godwin Jr. would surpass 1,000 yards for the season.
Through five games, Godwin is only at 179, and he needs 821 more in Tampa's final 12 games to hit the mark.
It's not impossible, but ESPN has already abandoned its prediction about Godwin and replaced it with a new prediction about Trotter.
"New bold prediction:Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter will make the Pro Bowl. Trotter currently leads all qualifying players in run stop win rate and has recorded a tackle on 18.1% of his defensive snaps, fifth highest in the NFL."
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Final Thoughts
It would be a tremendous accomplishment if Trotter earns a selection to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.
There are plenty of terrific linebackers in the NFC, so Trotter must play at an incredibly high level the rest of the way to even have a chance.
Now that the NFL has canceled the actual Pro Bowl game and the festivities that go along with it, it will be even tougher for Trotter, or anyone, to earn the honor.
There won't be scores of players declining their invitation or pulling out because of injury, paving the way for a bunch of alternates to go in their place.
If Trotter continues to play the way he has so far, he will have at least a chance of being named a Pro Bowler, especially if the Bucs can go on a run and be a factor in the NFC South race.
