Josiah Trotter Talks New Leaders, Commitment
June 25th, 2026
Bucs rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Some Bucs fans care a lot about what players are stepping up as leaders behind the scenes.
Joe is not a big leadership guy, but it matters to varying degrees in any group dynamic, sports teams or otherwise.
Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter was the 2026 second-round pick and he’s great football pedigree as he’s the son of a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker. So young Trotter has a strong feel for the NFL game at just 21 years old.
He hopped on The Jay Recher Podcast today and was asked about who on the Bucs roster jumped into leadership roles in the absense of Lavonte David and Mike Evans.
Trotter listed the following Bucs: Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs, Alex Anzalone, A’Shawn Robinson, Rakeem “Nacho” Nuñez-Roches and Antoine Winfield. He added that Anzalone, Robinson, Nacho and Mayfield are very vocal as they are “taking over the space Lavonte left.”
The rookie also was very serious when asked what he’d like fans to know about him entering a new season.
“I just want fans to know, not only just overall the type of player I am, the kind of person I am. Accountability, I’m going to go and I’m going to work hard every day,” Trotter said. “I’m going try to not only get better, but make my teammates better in any way I possibly can, defense or offensive side of the ball. … I’m a physical player. I get it from my dad. And I have a lot of God-given abilities.
“I just want to put them to use for not only this organization but this fanbase that deserves not only just a Super Bowl, but to see a winning organization. I believe that’s what we have here. …”
Trotter even had more to say about what he wants fans to know about him but Joe cut the transcription short. The young man cares about the impression he makes.
For Joe, Trotter just needs to be a significant upgrade on SirVocea Dennis this season. That shouldn’t be hard to accomplish.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
It was a good interview, looking forward to see how Trotter puts it together once camp and preseason hit.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Looking forward to seeing Trotter.
Also looking forward to SVD making some big plays much to the critics chagrin.
June 25th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
@simple t
i agree…
GO BUCS
June 25th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
I like the Trotter kid. Will Bowles put him in a position to succeed, or will he use him the same way he did Britt and Dennis? Bowles didn’t learn from 2024 to 2025, so I doubt it’ll be different.
June 25th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Simple T still waiting for Dennis to be good…Maybe with a different coach that knew how to use him.
June 25th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
I am hoping that Trotter plays so well for so long that he makes me forget that I ever heard of or mentioned Anthony Hill, Jr. or Jihaad Campbell.
Being as how I kind of get stuck on some things, I will likely be griping about it for a long time if he doesn’t. And, actually, surprisingly perhaps, I had rather not gripe.
June 25th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Dude looks ripped and ready to crush someone.
Just don’t miss tackles and take great angles! And for God’s sake don’t have someone run right around you and 70 yards downfield. That would be a huge upgrade!
June 25th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Although visibly lacking on some coverages – Sirvocea Dennis was not nearly as bad last year as Jose is implying….
2026 – 16 games – 101 Tackles (66 solo – led team), 3 sacks, 7 QB hits, 10 TFLs, 1 Int, 5 passes defended
That’s actually a decent stat line for a 1st year starter who was drafted in the 5th round.
But the Bucs certainly didn’t draft Trotter with a top 50 selection to sit on the bench….. So Dennis becomes a solid back-up who knows the defense well. Hopefully his special teams play shines for us this year.
And I’m definitely looking forward to seeing a Bucs LBer lay the wood on some guys. Its been awhile and Trotter is just the man for the job….
Also looking forward to seeing a Bucs LBer playing tight coverage on opposing TEs and RBs – and Anzalone is just the man for that job…….
June 25th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Simple Jack thinks SirSucksalot can play football. Another gem.
June 25th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
He certainly has the right attitude. Hopefully, his play will match his words.
June 25th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Well said young Mr. Trotter. Good stuff.
Welcome back Trotter has a pedigree head start and I’m rooting’ big time for this dude to succeed.
I normally don’t put as much care or effort or time into who the leaders are going into a season or who ends up being the captains. I care and want to know, but I’m looking at other stuff beyond that more so. However, with the huge change needed on Defense this season and organizational change and with losing LVD and ME13, I’m putting more stock into it this season and really looking for who (and who isn’t) stepping up to the plate. This is a big season for direction for this organization I believe. This is the start of a new era of Bucs ball in many ways. I wanna know who is stepping up and into those roles more this season than many of the seasons past.
June 25th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
For the first time in a long time, I’m getting excited about the new players.
Landing Trotter, to go with Winfield, the legacy.
Then Rocha back. Anzalone. The guy from the Panthers. Kancey healthy. Vea ready to shut up Polian. Ted Hurst. Wirfs healthy. Mauch mad and back. Baker not beat up.
Guys who want to be here.
Enjoy the month off, Men! Get acclimated to the heat.
Bowles, rub some hot sauce in your britches and GET MAD!!!
June 25th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
He’s got to be so much better than Dennis
June 25th, 2026 at 9:49 pm
He’s a kJ Britt clone,
June 26th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Leadership matters in EVERY GROUP DYNAMIC! Whether you’re an NFL player, a Father or even a Chef. If you don’t have a leader guess what? You have an A$$ load of followers running around doing nothing! What team does that sound like?
June 26th, 2026 at 9:39 am
He’s much faster than Britt. Trotter’s 4.49 vs Britt’s 4.76.
Britt had a 32.5-inch vertical jump. Average football athlete.
Trotter most probably has a higher football IQ than Britt.
We shall see.
June 26th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
No QB, even a veteran dog like Baker, takes over the leadership role of a defensive leader. And don’t get me wrong, I love me some nachos (especially with jalapeno cheese), but he needs to make the roster before he can be considered a leader.
Find me a leader that this quitter defense will respond to, and do it now.
June 26th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
Fans sometimes expect too much from 4th & 5th round picks.
Britt @ SVD….
We finally made an investment for s LB in round two…let’s hope that pays off…
June 26th, 2026 at 6:25 pm
Fans sometimes expect too much from 4th & 5th round picks.
Britt @ SVD….
We finally made an investment for s LB in round two…let’s hope that pays off…
June 26th, 2026 at 9:33 pm
KaBucs, where did you get Trotter runs a 4.49 ? It’s not true. I wish people would stop puking words out of their mouth without doing any research. If he was really that fast he would have run at the combine or at a pro day.
June 26th, 2026 at 11:56 pm
Pickgrin.
The stat line is completely irrelevant if you watched the games. He did not play well. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
He is not long for this team. I don’t know when his rookie contract is up, but he will be gone when it’s over if not sooner