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Columbia Daily Tribune
Buccaneers pick Missouri football's Josiah Trotter in NFL Draft
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Buccaneers pick Missouri football's Josiah Trotter in NFL Draft
Mizzou’s ‘Axe Man’ is following in his family’s footsteps as an NFL Draft pick.Missouri football middle linebacker Josiah Trotter is officially heading to the league after the Buccaneers used the 46th-overall pick to bring him to Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, April 24, in Pittsburgh .
He is the second Mizzou player drafted to the NFL this season, coming off the board exactly one pick after Zion Young went No. 45 overall to the Baltimore Ravens .
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Trotter is also the third member of his family to hear their name called in the NFL Draft. Jeremiah Trotter Sr., who is Josiah Trotter’s father, was a third-round pick in 1998. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who is the Mizzou linebacker’s older brother, was a fifth round pick by the Eagles in 2024.
Josiah Trotter spent one year with Mizzou after transferring to the Tigers from West Virginia, where he spent the first two years of his college career. The linebacker led Mizzou in tackling in 2025 and declared early for the draft process, leaving college after his redshirt sophomore season.
More: SEC will blow up college football as we know it before sharing revenue | Opinion
Here is what you need to know about former Missouri middle linebacker and second round draft pick Josiah Trotter:
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Josiah Trotter college stats
Trotter was, by quite some margin, Mizzou’s leading tackler with 84 stops in 12 games last season, working out to seven tackles per appearance. He led Missouri’s second level with 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including two sacks.
He’s a force working downhill and showed good tracking speed and awareness to get horizontal when necessary.
Trotter was strong against the run in the college game and was able to impact the quarterback when asked with well-timed blitzes.
His main talent is his strength and physicality, though. He’s a thumper.
Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) celebrates after a play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Josiah Trotter highlights
Trotter (No. 40 for Mizzou) was among the most-consistent players on the Mizzou roster in 2025.
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His best game, however, was almost certainly in an October road win at Auburn. Keep an eye on No. 40. He hurdled a blocker for what proved to be the game-icing play.
Josiah Trotter height, weight
Height; weight: 6-foot-1⅞; 237 pounds
Arm length:32¼ inches
Hand size:10¼ inches
Josiah Trotter combine results
Trotter did not take part in most of the measurable testing in Indianapolis . He sustained what Mizzou called a “minor knee injury” that caused him to also miss the Tigers’ bowl game in December.
He did, however, set the best mark for linebackers at the combine with 27 reps in the bench press. That was two more than the second-best linebacker in Indianapolis.
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Josiah Trotter high school
Trotter went to St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia .
He was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2023.
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) reacts during the first quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) dives forward against Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) and safety Mose Phillips III (3) and defensive tackle Marquis Gracial (33) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Josiah Trotter draft grade
Draft analyst Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Todd Bowles' defense was overdue for a linebacker who could take the mantle from Lavonte David . Trotter, however, was an odd choice to take over at the second level. He's a force when working downhill, but the Bucs were too often burned by their coverage deficiencies at the position. That's a big vulnerability for Trotter, and it could remain a sore spot for the defense." USA Today grade: C-
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Nick Gray, Nashville Tennesseean: "Trotter will be a core special teamer, but I'm not sure he can hold up in coverage against NFL backs and tight ends." Grade: C.
Does Josiah Trotter fit Tampa Bay's needs?
"A first-team All-SEC choice in 2025 and son of Eagles great Jeremiah Trotter, the younger Trotter should get an opportunity to start straight away following the retirement of Lavonte David in Tampa. A bit like dad, if not as big (6-2, 237), Trotter will dole out punishment but needs to do more in coverage." - USA Today NFL Reporter Nate Davis.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Josiah Trotter draft, Bucs pick Missouri LB in NFL draft second round
