“I See More Derrick Brooks In Him”
July 1st, 2026
Rookie Bucs linebacker Josiah Trotter.
So it seems Bucs rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter was trained by the best straight-line linebacker in the history of football.
That would be his dad, Jeremiah. That’s the take from Jeremiah Trotter’s former Eagles teammate Ian Beckles, who also started seven seasons at guard for Tampa Bay and is a renowned Bucs analyst based in Tampa.
Beckles has watched some film on Josiah Trotter, he explained on The Jay Recher Podcast, and left thinking the 21-year-old inside linebacker does not play like his pops.
“I’ve never seen this in a player where [Jeremiah Trotter] never made a tackle outside the tackles,” Beckles said. “If you run inside the tackles, he’s going to run straight and blow up two-thirds of whatever’s in there. And that was his job, and he did it for a long time and he did it effectively. That’s not Mike Singletary. That’s not Ray Lewis. That’s not Luke Kuechly. But he did what he was doing amazingly, and Philadelphia was good because they knew what his strengths were.
“Josiah’s a different bird. Josiah, I see more Derrick Brooks in him. I see sideline-to-sideline, reading plays and being more instinctive.”
Joe hopes Beckles is right, but Joe sure would settle for Josiah Trotter playing like his four-time Pro Bowl dad. There’s still a place in the NFL for a relentless bone-crushing and sure tackler, especially if he’s playing alongside versatile Alex Anzalone.
July 1st, 2026 at 11:43 am
his floor is his dad and ceiling derrick brooks…i’ll take it lol
GO BUCS!!!!
July 1st, 2026 at 11:51 am
He’s not his dad, neither was his brother. He’s his own man, not his old man.
July 1st, 2026 at 11:54 am
Theres only one Derrick Brooks. But if he can play close to that, I’ll take it. Hes his own man and I’m looking forward to seeing him play. This defense, and team as a whole lacks elite speed. I’m rooting for him.
July 1st, 2026 at 12:01 pm
It would be fantastic if the hype is real. It’s never easy to say “I was wrong when I said I thought the Bucs should have picked CJ Allen instead”, but I honestly hope I’m saying that in short order. I hope this young man becomes a force to be reckoned with at LB with the Bucs.
July 1st, 2026 at 12:04 pm
JT has a huge bar…..being a 2nd round pick…..many have not turned out too well…..lets hope he is an anomaly.
July 1st, 2026 at 12:04 pm
I think right now all anyone can do is guess. I think it is unfair and fantasy to think, Bain , Trotter and Scott are going to be ALL Pro players one day1 of the season. Hopefully Trotter will start well for a rookie and develop quickly as the season goes on. I think comparing his play like anybody until the pads come on is a mistake. College football is a different animal than Pro. We see it all the time players are all world in college then it all changes at the Pro level. With that said he appears to be a promising upgrade that is sorely needed. I think he is an upgrade from Dennis on day 1 and frankly, I don’t think he could be any worse that is for sure. I see Trotter starting slow and picking up ground as the season wears on. Anything above that will be gravy to be sure
July 1st, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Bart Scott
July 1st, 2026 at 1:38 pm
I wish him well. We would love to see Brooks’ passion on the field again through this young man.
The defense should show more character with the new infusion of players.
Let’s see if the Head Coach has done a self evaluation for his decision making last year. He lost the best WR in Buccaneer history and he lost the trust from some players in December. That most likely lost him the division.
I miss BA. He kept decision making simple.
July 1st, 2026 at 1:38 pm
I would be super happy if he was a super solid every down playmaker like a Shelton Quarles. Run, pass or whatever, he was always there putting the hurt on someone.
July 1st, 2026 at 1:48 pm
Please. Under this coaching genis it will be fortunate if he plays like KJ Britt.
July 1st, 2026 at 1:57 pm
813:
When you say it like that I get all tingly for some reason.
July 1st, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Hasn’t even played a snap. High praise
July 1st, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Lacks elite speed? Every one of our corners runs in the 4.3s and Keionte Scott in the 4.2s. They are all very fast. Now our LINEBACKERS lacked elite speed- that’s for sure last year. Won’t be the case this year though.
July 1st, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Can we please not say his name in the same sentence as Derrick Brooks until, I dunno, he plays a single snap in the NFL? I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
July 1st, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Im sure he ain’t no mike evans! Oh wait he’s not a safety! Go Bucs!
July 1st, 2026 at 4:01 pm
I was iffy on him because of his injuries & all but if he stays healthy that’s good. He’s got the potential to be just as good & I’m sure dad is gonna work with him on some things.
July 1st, 2026 at 4:19 pm
70+ tackles a sack or 2 ..that’s all
July 1st, 2026 at 5:10 pm
This Year’s Draft Class is INSANE!!!
Comparisons we’ve heard so far …
Ruben Baine = Warren Sapp
Tedd Hurst = Mike Evans
Josiah Trotter = Derrick Brooks
Not just HOF … but Top 5 All-Time Best at Their Positions.
Wow! Licht really crushed this draft!!! … OR a lot of people are smoking a lot of pot.
July 1st, 2026 at 5:48 pm
These new guys need to be used right. Does anyone trust Bowles to use them right? Bowles has already said that he thinks Trotter is good in coverage…Did Bowles say that KJ Britt and Dennis were good in coverage, too? I guess he must’ve thought so, but we saw how that worked out.
July 1st, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Maybe Patrick Willis is a better comparison?
July 1st, 2026 at 6:07 pm
Either way. Excited to see the man play. Might bring a unique play that we haven’t seen played at an elite level yet..who knows. Seems like a smart guy though. All the intangibles.
July 1st, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Joe: “There’s still a place in the NFL for a relentless bone-crushing and sure tackler”. Wake up from your fantasy Joe. Forget the bone crushing Joe, those young guys miss too many tackles trying to make bone crushing hits because they don’t wrap up. Give me a defense of sure tacklers over bone crushing missed tackles.
July 1st, 2026 at 7:17 pm
Maybe I missed it cause I live in Japan but Mina Kimes on 6/24 mentioned that she thinks the Bucs will have a top 10 defense and there was no conversation about that statement on this site. I’d love to know what you think about her proclamation and whether you agree or disagree.
July 1st, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Bowles will ruin this kid like he has everyone else. He’s the worst DC in the NFL.
Derrick Brooks was the best LB I’ve ever seen play a football game.
Let’s pump the brakes a little Joe until we see some production.
We’re relying on rookies because we have a HC\DC that is completely incompetent.
2026 is already over and there will be no parades in Tampa. Wake up!!!!
July 1st, 2026 at 9:01 pm
“Josiah’s a different bird. Josiah, I see more Derrick Brooks in him. I see sideline-to-sideline, reading plays and being more instinctive.”
———
I didn’t see it on tape, he doesn’t have the speed. He’s not slow, but isn’t remotely in Brooks league when it comes to covering ground.
Again, I like Trotter, but to me he’s much more of a typical run-first 3-4 ILB who has the potential to be really good – just not in this defense where he’s expected to excel in coverage.
With all that said, I’d love to be proven wrong.
July 1st, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Wynch! Nobody cares what you think or saw all you do is freaking wine,ive never seen anyone wine as much as you do ,about a game well maybe 328,you 2 are an embarrassment to everything a human being is supposed to be get a life and do everyone a favor and step…please ill pay you to STFU!
July 1st, 2026 at 11:04 pm
Joe already wrote about Kimes’ proclamation. You can find it in Joe’s free archives.
July 2nd, 2026 at 1:52 am
Just do what you did in college young man and everything will work out fine.
July 2nd, 2026 at 1:58 am
B7cs appear to have had a very good draft. Im not hearing much talk about Kionte Scott. That young man is gonna make a lot of bucs fans smile for years to come. He was a steal. He’s an absolute beast and by season’s end he will be respected by much of the league He’s a baller. J.Y.W.A.S..
AS ALWAYS GO BUCS
July 2nd, 2026 at 9:59 am
I think we’ll see Scott playing for Trotter on obvious passing downs for a while which may be awesome since he sure *does* cover a lot of ground with his blazing speed. More nickel, more dime than we usually see to have Scott in there roving. He’s a big play waiting to happen.
July 3rd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Promising take on him. If he’s like Brooks we can all be very grateful.