Eagles Already Perfect Fit for Hometown Rookie: 'Just Be Free!'
PHILADELPHIA – One of the more underreported hurdles for an NFL rookie is the upheaval any young man goes through when relocating from their college campus to the big city and all the real-world pressures of being a professional.
That’s not the case for Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who grew up in the shadow of the South Philadelphia sports complex when his father was a star linebacker for the organization.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. John McMullen/Eagles Today
“It’s always helpful when you go into a new stage of your life or the next stage on your journey if you have people around you that you’re comfortable with, or even if it’s just an area that you’re comfortable with,” Trotter Jr. said before the first practice of Eagles’ rookie camp on Friday.
“That helps you just be free.”
Trotter Jr.’s comfort zone is the Delaware Valley, particularly South Philly where his father practiced and played, and the South Jersey suburbs where Trotter Sr. decided to raise his family.
Trotter Jr. left the area to attend Clemson University and it’s been a while since he was at the NovaCare Complex. It all came flooding back quickly, though.
“It had been a little bit just because you know, yeah, you’re in the area, you watch the games, support the team and everything but you’re always busy and whatnot,” Trotter Jr. said. “It had been a little bit but once I got back into the facility, I still remember where everything was, recognize people and everything.”
The Eagles had No. 54, made famous by his four-time Pro Bowl father as the Eagles’ “Axe Man” waiting as well.
“They didn’t necessarily ask. They kinda assumed what number I was going to ask for so they kind of put it on hold,” Trotter Jr. smiled. “Then I came in when they were asking for numbers and everything and I asked about to get five-four.
“… “I’m very excited. I’ve been wearing it my whole life and also, you know, wore it because my dad wore it when he was playing here. And I was very happy that was available and they decided to give me that number. So gonna wear it with pride and just be the best player I can.”
Meanwhile, Clemson running back Will Shipley is coming along for the ride with Trotter Jr.
“We had our battles making each other better,” Trotter said of his college and now professional teammate. “Something at Clemson that we say like iron sharpens iron. So we always going back and forth trying to make each other better. “
Shipley used the same iron sharpens iron sentiment when speaking about Trotter Jr.
“Iron sharpens iron. That’s exactly what it is. We both knew what we wanted to do as freshmen at Clemson,” Shipley said. “That’s get on the field, play, compete for a national championship. And just go be our best.
“… With him being a linebacker and me a running back, we butted heads a lot. We got after it in practice. And we just always competed. So to have him here it’s great to have a friend, someone I’m familiar with. But also someone who’s going to push me every single day, and make me better. I’m going to do the same for him.”
There are no perfect scenarios in life or the NFL but Trotter Jr. to Philadelphia is as close as a player can get.
“I feel like God really blessed me to have the opportunity to play here,” said Trotter Jr. “And it worked out very well as I can just stay home. I know the area. I know the team, I pretty much knew the facility. … I just thank God.”