Hardy Nickerson Endorses Josiah Trotter
June 9th, 2026
Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter.
There’s a knock on the Buccaneers’ young second-round draft pick.
Josiah Trotter recently turned 21 years old and the All-SEC linebacker is said to have issues in pass coverage.
Is it a fair criticism? Maybe. But it’s also fair to say Trotter is still learning and he wasn’t asked to cover a ton of pass catchers in college. So he’ll have to develop those skills. Stil, Trotter was an All-SEC linebacker (coaches’ choice) last season at the University of Missouri. That’s no small feat.
Arguably the second-best linebacker in Bucs history, Hardy Nickerson, was asked about Trotter during his visit to The Sports Web last weekend.
“He’s got the traits and you can best believe that’s not going to be the issue with him,” Nickerson said of Trotter, after acknowledging a young linebacker can learn to cover in the NFL. “He’s going to be a ballplayer based on his pedigree.”
Trotter is the son of four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. Nickerson coached in the NFL and college and now is a high school head coach in California.
Pedigree often matters. Trotter, like Antoine Winfield, Jr., is likely a rookie beyond his years. Winfield’s dad was a three-time Pro Bowler at cornerback, and young Winfield was a key rookie cog of the Super Bowl champion Bucs of the 2020 season.
Joe’s biggest wonder is how long it will take to get young Trotter up to speed.
The Bucs, under Todd Bowles, are not known for developing young inside linebackers. And Trotter does not have Devin White’s raw skills.
June 9th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
Know who else had a pedigree? Ryan Nece. How did that work out?
Let’s just pump the brakes on this pedigree talk.
June 9th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
Then what is Todd Bowles know for? 😁
June 9th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
@bojim eating kitkats.
June 9th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
LBs need a some time e for development. Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, even Anzalone wasn’t all pros their first year.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:03 pm
‘Joe’s biggest wonder is how long it will take to get young Trotter up to speed. The Bucs, under Todd Bowles, are not known for developing young inside linebackers. And Trotter does not have Devin White’s raw skills.’
You never disappoint Joe; stir the pot. I’m sure that Josiah will get plenty of defensive snaps, but I’m not even convinced at this point that he’ll be our MLB starter come Game 1.
Todd Bowles will be coaching for his life this season, and I’m not sure he’ll be up for taking significant risks. Personally I think that’s why the Bucs have brought in so many veterans on defense. Trotter has all preseason to earn a starting gig.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:13 pm
Shllo Sanders (allegedly) had a pedigree too
June 9th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
An endorsement from Hardware?! Yeah I’ll take that. My hypothesis is that Hardware knows a bit more about MLB than all posters here combined x 1000.
Still – have to prove it on the field. I’m excited about this young man.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
21 friggin years old. All SEC. He’ll make an immediate impact and is just scratching the surface of his potential.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
We signed two vets at ILB for this very reason, if Trotter isn’t ready they can package him til he is…
June 9th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
“An endorsement from Hardware?! Yeah I’ll take that.“
Exactamundo, if El Dragon vouches for this kid that’s a pretty high compliment.
“LBs need a some time e for development. Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, even Anzalone wasn’t all pros their first year.“
Unrealistically high expectation, all we want is for his style of play to translate while taking some strides playing in space as a pass defender. Expecting anything more than that is resident of Imaginationland level expectations.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Devin White was no genius, and he made an immediate impact. Trotter will too. They didn’t draft him to sit, and learn. He’s going out there opening day.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:17 pm
This was my biggest concern with our draft.
Pass defense.
None of the defenders we drafted are known for their pass defense skills.
The more I read and learn about them, the more I think we made some really good picks.
They’ll excel in other ways. Trotter will do fine and will develop his pass defending skills.
But yeah, at some point, you’ve got to wonder if they’re paying attention in the front office to what our needs really are.
You could land a 747 out in the flat with the defense we had last year
June 9th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
Please keep in mind the guy is young and a rookie. He will need to develop, count on it. The scary part, he is very young and Anzalone is 31. There is no depth behind them, unless you call Dennis depth. So presently the whole pass defense is a gamble between the LB!’ And CB’s. Let hope the safeties play really well and the nickel position too. Yes the current pass defense is a huge gamble right now.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:46 pm
Hardy was the end of the yucks and the start of a great run. Hardy changed the culture of the whole team in 95 or 96 true or false? his endorsement means something
June 9th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Football 1 … Bucs also signed a LB named Christian Rozeboom who’s started 26 games in the past 2 years (11 for the Rams & 15 for the Panthers). I’d say he’ll make pretty good depth.