Josiah Trotter Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

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The last name Trotter has become synonymous with stellar linebacker play. Jeremiah Trotter Sr. was a two-time NFL All-Pro, a four-time Pro Bowl selection at linebacker and appeared in a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was an All-American linebacker for Clemson and was drafted by the Eagles this past spring. And now West Virginia redshirt freshman linebacker Josiah Trotter is carrying on the family legacy after being named the Week 4 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Sept. 24.

Despite being injured in the game, Trotter helped the Mountaineers (2-2, 1-0 Big 12 Conference) open Big 12 play with a victory, defeating the Kansas Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) 32-28 on Sept. 21 in Morgantown, W. Va.

For the second time this season, the Philadelphia native led his team in total tackles and posted double-digit tackles in Week 4. Against the Jayhawks, Trotter racked up 11 total tackles and 6 solo as the Mountaineers scored two late touchdowns after trailing 28-17 in the second half. After the West Virginia offense drove 75 yards in 9 plays to bring the deficit to just three points with 2:12 left in the game, the Mountaineer defense stiffened and forced the Jayhawks into a three-and-out.

On West Virginia’s ensuing drive, quarterback Garrett Greene capped a 7-play, 67-yard touchdown drive with a 15-yard toss to wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III with 26 seconds left to play. The Mountaineer defense then sealed the win after recovering a strip-sack fumble of KU quarterback Jalon Daniels. 

On the Season

For the season, Trotter is second on the team and No. 15 in the Big 12 in total tackles with 28, 14 of which are solo. The 6-foot-2, 238-pounder also has 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks on the season. Trotter’s 11 total tackles against Kansas were a career high. 

Trotter and the Mountaineers’ defense will look to make adjustments during the upcoming bye week to improve on giving up an average of 28.5 points per game and more than 400 yards of total offense per game. West Virginia resumes Big 12 play against the No. 20 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) Cowboys on Oct. 5 in Stillwater, Okla.

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.