by J. T. Toth
Photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics.
The NFL Draft talk never ends and we are here at Draft 412 in an effort to keep you ready for the next set of gridiron stars. From today until draft night 2024, we will bring you mocks, profiles, team needs, and everything else related to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Today’s Spotlight - Clemson, LB, Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Name- Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Pos- LB
Team- Clemson
HT/WT- 6’0” 230 lbs.
Born- 12/24/2002
Home – Hainesport, NJ
Trotter’s father, Jeremiah Trotter, was an NFL All-Pro linebacker who primarily played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, PA. He was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and a 4-star by 247 Sports. Trotter picked Clemson over a handful of other big schools.
As a freshman, Trotter Jr. played in just 5 games sparingly while learning the defense. As a sophomore in 2022, he played in 13 games and had 6 sacks and 2 interceptions, quickly becoming a factor all over the field.
Trotter Jr. plays bigger than his listed size of 6’0” and with his motor, he is able to hold his own against much larger blockers. He’s got a closing burst when chasing down quarterbacks and the speed to create issues in the backfield when run blitzing or closing in on his targets.
Trotter Jr. is athletic enough to cover running backs or tight ends one-on-one in space and was used in coverage situations frequently by Dabo Swinney. Trotter Jr. reads running plays well and shows great agility in moving through the line.
Trotter Jr. is a good all-around player but may be limited in the NFL with the kind of pressure he can create. He tends to get swallowed up at times at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t have the speed or hand skills to beat you around the edge. He needs to add some strength to play effectively at the next level.
Strengths
Good in coverage
Reads the run well
Plays bigger than his size
Has good closing speed
Weaknesses
Needs to add strength
Will struggle to put consistent pressure on QB
Needs to wrap up better on tackles
Can get swallowed up navigating through the line of scrimmage
Final Analysis
The 2024 NFL Draft appears to be a down year for linebackers. That being said, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. should be one of the first off the board. He will be a solid all-around linebacker who will help his new team in coverage and on occasion with certain blitz packages.
Prediction- Late first/early second round pick