“Animal” Label Placed On Josiah Trotter
August 19th, 2026
Ted Hurst (left) and Josiah Trotter are among the impressive members of the Bucs’ rookie corps.
Mention rookie second-round pick Josiah Trotter to folks at One Buc Palace and they usually stop in their tracks.
A form of seriousness overcomes their faces and an over-the-top description of Trotter emerges in a somewhat ominous tone. The message is clear: Trotter is a very special inside linebacker ready to unleash his fury on the National Football League.
Baker Mayfield mentioned Trotter yesterday and almost couldn’t contain himself.
“A guy like ‘Trot,’ he’s an animal,” Mayfield said. “He’s not a rookie. He’s physical. He’s aggressive. He talks [trash], and you know what, we needed guys like that on the defense. To have a rookie that’s that confident in it is really good for the Bucs.”
Trotter is 21 years old and has just a handful of preseason snaps under his belt. Breathe easy. Relax. Let him be a rookie. That said, Joe thinks Trotter easily could be a damn good rookie, and the Bucs have had several strong rookie performers at that position.
Joe especially loves how easy it will be for Trotter and free agent inside linebaker Alex Anzalone to be major upgrades from last year’s inside linebacker corps.
August 19th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Okay, so then who’s “Hawk” gonna be?
“WELL…!”
OG rasslin’ fans get the reference…
August 19th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Now if he can do Steiner math then this equation may be easily solved.
August 19th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Best part is him having AA playing right next to him.
Great combo
August 19th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
time for a mike tyson quote.
August 19th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
More and more this sounds like the 2nd coming of Hardy Nickerson
August 19th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
It’s not hard to see 3 rookies starting on the Bucs’ defense (Trotter, Bain & Scott), plus Capehart getting a lot of reps as a rotational DT. That’s quite impressive, expecially when considering that the 2025 draft gave us Parrish, Morrison, Elijah Roberts who all got quite a few def snaps last season, plus David Walker (who’s essentially a rookie this year). That’s 8 players in just 2 drafts, with over half of them being potential starters.
August 19th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Animal is much better than Bored.
August 19th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Hope he starts with the starters Saturday. Dennis already has more starts than he deserves.
August 19th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
We need some animals on defense…..we were very soft……I’m thinking a major upgrade with the entire LB corps.
Outside……Bain, Muhammad, Walker
Inside Trotter, Anzalone, Rozeboom
These are 6 NEW LBs……
Nobody is talking about this yet but I have high expectations for a much improved Special Teams……New Coach and many new players.
August 19th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
I,m excited about these new defensive players that are all going to contribute this year! I just hope that the Animal can cover running backs and tight ends!
August 19th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
he’s the opposite of Levante David, and that his struggle is going to be to keep his weight down. Sure looks like while practicing he’s in the 240 to 250 range right now. James Harrison played at 260 but I’m not so sure that would work in today’s game………. It’s going to be awful hard for a 21 year-old to keep his weight within three or 4 pounds where it is currently……… He virtual is however exactly what this defense needs just don’t know why it took JASON ,Todd and the ownership so long to figure it out . Their leadership personalities definitely need extra strong players around……… Robinson, bane, SCOTT, T Smith, JParrish, A A and Trotter are a much much better group mentally than what the Bucs have had. let’s be clear under Todd. The Bucs defense has easily been one of the least physical and softest mentally in the NFL for years. can’t wait to see the physicality and attitude change on the field. Go Bucs !!
August 19th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Todd will get head coach of the year!!!!
He is just going to sit back and watch his 2026 defensive scheme bring the hammer!!!
LFG!!!!!!!!
August 19th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Hell yeah we got us another Noah Spence
August 19th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Everyone loves Trot, but his production against the Jets’ second team was underwhelming for me: 1 solo tackle and 1 assist.
August 19th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
So, this low-life IDIOT Jack Pyburn is now trying to set in place HIS back-up plan for after he’s CUT by the BUCS!? Okay, carry on then. PATHETIC. What a LOSER. GTFO
August 19th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Seeing is believing!
August 19th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
NO Ward B
He was a different animal. He was more like George the Animal Steele. Noah Spence would rather sit back and chew on the ropes and fake hits to the crowd.
August 19th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
It sucks that the Bucs are going to lose Pyburn to college football. That’s just crazy. We finally hit on a OLB who looks to be a diamond in the rough. This news is so disappointing.
August 19th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
You can go back to the draft night JBF archives to read all the disappointed fans saying the Jason really blew it picking Trotter. I see some of the same people acting like they loved him all along. lol.
August 19th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
Not gonna overreact to preseason game 1 but weren’t people posting on here saying he was getting washed out often?
Again, not gonna judge. If Vita is back… once the starters line up, gonna be less bodies to hit level 2 and wash out our LBs.
Hopefully that’s when this Trotter kid delivers the seek and destroy we keep hearing about.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“That’s 8 players in just 2 drafts, with over half of them being potential starters.”
I’m looking forward to the development of the CBs as well. Sometimes it takes longer for a CB to get it together. Remember Carlton Davis? People wanted him cut his first few years. Morrison might be the same way, if he can stay healthy.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
He looke like a tackle dummy…OK anything to sell some tix.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Rhonde was horrible the first year or so. Nearly cut I think. CB takes a little time to learn the ropes and the speed. Morrison needs a little time.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
What’s all this hype with this guy? He’s all rah rah in practice and stuff and all of the sudden he’s an animal? GTFO! We ain’t even seen the guy play yet. All this hype and giving him names and stuff is just garbage unless he produces on the field.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Love all the Trotter hype and I think he will be a very good football player. Let’s all give this kid so time. This is a huge step up for anyone let alone a rookie at an extremely important position. He’s going to have some growing pains especially after teams get film on him and attack his weaknesses.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Resigned him. 2-year deal including this year. Good deal for all parties.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Oops, wrong post. But we did resign Vita.
August 19th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
Stanglassman: I believe the Bucs will give Plyburn a chance to show what he has got in the remaining preseason games. If they like what they see, they will keep him on the 53, or place him on the practice squad. If either one of those scenarios plays out, I can’t see him choosing to return to LSU.
August 19th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Vea is back for next 2 years!!! Win win for all sides IMHO
August 19th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
Vea Jsut got signed!!! 1 year 30M