CLEMSON in the NFL

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was picked by Philadelphia, where his dad was an All-Pro player.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was picked by Philadelphia, where his dad was an All-Pro player.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. drafted in fifth round to continue NFL legacy in Philly
by - Sat Apr 27 14:58:38 GMT-04:00 2024

A former Clemson linebacker is continuing a family legacy in a familiar city.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was picked 155th overall in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. The Eagles traded up to draft him.

Philly is where his dad and former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was an All-Pro pick.

He is the second Clemson player picked by the Eagles on Saturday, joining fourth-round pick Will Shipley.

Trotter is the fourth Clemson defensive selection of the draft to this point, joining Nate Wiggins (1st; Ravens), Ruke Orhorhoro (2nd; Falcons), and Xavier Thomas (5th; Cardinals).

Trotter's selection is slotted $4.3 million overall with a $325,000 signing bonus (Spotrac).

Coaches reaction

Head Coach Dabo Swinney: “From the day he showed up to Clemson, he was a pro. It was just a matter of him going through the process of putting his three years in and getting better. Everything he’s always done, you would think he was already a pro. He’s wise beyond his years. He’s mature beyond his years. And he’s just an elite player beyond his years. He was born to play linebacker. He’s a very, very high football IQ player and one of those guys that will have a chance to impact his team early. He’s got great instincts and great football IQ, and he can run and he can play special teams. He is a guy that, day one, when he shows up as a rookie, the other pros will think, ‘This guy has been in the league a while,’ because that’s how he carries himself. He won’t be overwhelmed. He’s well-prepared to not just go make their team but really shine.”

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Wes Goodwin: “Jeremiah Trotter was born to play the linebacker position. He has the instincts, knowledge and athletic ability to be a tremendous pro. His drive, work ethic and determination will separate him from others and will also be great assets to his new organization and city. He was a pro from day one at Clemson and I can’t wait to see him dominate the next level.”

Clemson notes on Trotter's selection

– Trotter became the 82nd NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 17th fifth-round pick of his tenure.

– Trotter became the 14th Clemson player drafted by the Eagles all-time, joining G Frank Gillespie (1949), T Nathan Gressette (1954), G Clyde White (1955), C Wingo Avery (1955), C Jim Padgett (1958), T Jack Smith (1959), G Jim Payne (1959), G Eric Harmon (1991), SS Brian Dawkins (1996), DB C.J. Gaddis (2007), DE Ricky Sapp (2010), S K’Von Wallace (2020) and RB Will Shipley (2024).

– The Eagles became the fourth NFL franchise to select at least 14 Clemson players in the NFL Draft all-time, joining the Giants, Steelers and Cardinals. That list grows to five when expanded to include the NFL Supplemental Draft (Rams, 14).

– Trotter became the second No. 155 overall pick in Clemson history, joining C Rick Harrell (1973).

– Trotter became the eighth off-ball linebacker drafted from Clemson since the 2015 NFL Draft. Trotter joins Stephone Anthony (2015), Tony Steward (2015), B.J. Goodson (2016), Dorian O’Daniel (2018), Isaiah Simmons (2020), Baylon Spector (2022) and Trenton Simpson (2023) in that group.

– Trotter became the first Clemson player to join his father as an NFL Draft pick since wide receiver Amari Rodgers — the son of quarterback and 2000 NFL Draft pick Tee Martin — was selected by the Green Bay Packers in 2020.

– Trotter played his prep career at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph Prep. He became the ninth Clemson player in the Common Draft era to be drafted by a home state team: T Andre Hewitt (Dayton, Ohio — Cleveland Browns in 1994), LB Wardell Rouse (Clewiston, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995), S Chris Clemons (Arcadia, Fla. — Miami Dolphins in 2009), CB Coty Sensabaugh (Kingsport, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans in 2012), DE Vic Beasley (Adairsville, Ga — Atlanta Falcons in 2015), DT Grady Jarrett (Conyers, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons in 2015); CB A.J. Terrell (Atlanta, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons in 2020) and T Jackson Carman (Fairfield, Ohio — Cincinnati Bengals in 2021).

– Trotter became the 23rd member of Clemson’s front seven to be drafted since the 2015 NFL Draft. Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Dabo Swinney ranked first among active coaches and second among all coaches — active or inactive — in front-seven draft picks produced in that span.

Clemson bio

NFL legacy who made his own name as a multi-time All-America linebacker for the Tigers ... finished his Clemson career credited with 202 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 13 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and four interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns) in 1,413 snaps over 39 career games (26 starts) from 2021-23 ... exited Clemson as one of only 14 FBS players in the last 20 seasons to record 10+ sacks, 4+ interceptions, 3+ forced fumbles and multiple pick-sixes; he was one of four (UCLA's Akeem Ayers, Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon and Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh) to accomplish the feat in a Power Five conference ... became the sixth Butkus Award finalist in program history ... started 26 consecutive games at middle linebacker in 2022-23.

NFL draft prospect rankings

PFF: 96

ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.): 108

ESPN (Matt Miller): 122

ESPN (Jordan Reid): 176

The Athletic: Not in Top 100 (4th round projection)

NFL.com grade/analysis

Grade: 6.29 (“Will eventually be average starter”)

Analysis: “Inside linebacker who plays with dogged determination and a nose for the football that helps him pack out the stat sheet. Trotter comes from NFL bloodlines and operates with consistency, play strength and a willingness to do the dirty work. He’s quick to diagnose and moves with exceptional body control and footwork to play around bodies and get to the rock. He’s not very big or long, but his football IQ makes it a moot point. He has adequate pursuit speed with good short-area burst and real talent in getting to the quarterback as a blitzer. Trotter can get to the ball with clear eyes and above-average efficiency and has a chance to be a long-time starter in the league.” - Lance Zierlein

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