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Josiah Trotter, son of Eagles Hall of Famer, commits to play football at West Virginia

The class of 2023 linebacker plays at Saint Joseph's Prep and chose West Virginia over Penn State, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, and Clemson, where his brother, Jeremiah Jr. plays.

St. Joseph's Prep # 40 Josiah Trotter looks to the sideline after pulling down Souderton’s #7 Jalen White in the backfield in the second quarter of the St. Joseph's Prep vs. Souderton H.S. football PIAA Class 6A state semifinal game at Cardinal O'Hara H.S. in Springfield, Pa. on Nov. 21, 2020. St. Joe’s went on to win the game 51-43.
St. Joseph's Prep # 40 Josiah Trotter looks to the sideline after pulling down Souderton’s #7 Jalen White in the backfield in the second quarter of the St. Joseph's Prep vs. Souderton H.S. football PIAA Class 6A state semifinal game at Cardinal O'Hara H.S. in Springfield, Pa. on Nov. 21, 2020. St. Joe’s went on to win the game 51-43.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

St. Joseph’s Prep’s Josiah Trotter, a three-star linebacker recruit, announced his commitment to play football at West Virginia via his Instagram page on Friday.

Trotter, the son of four-time Eagles Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, chose coach Neal Brown’s Mountaineers over Penn State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and South Carolina. The class of 2023 star made the announcement on his 17th birthday.

West Virginia was a bit of a surprise pick, as many projected he could follow his brother to Clemson, where Jeremiah Jr. is a sophomore.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Josiah Trotter received his first scholarship offer from Penn State when he was just a freshman.

» READ MORE: There’s a new Trotter in town. And yes, he’s a big-time linebacker.

He is expected to play in the middle of West Virginia defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley’s scheme. West Virginia ranked 37th in total defense last season under Lesley and finished 6-7 overall.

“The defensive scheme fits me well,” Trotter said. “I feel like I could thrive within their defense and I could get to where I wanted to in that defense. Also, the competition they play as well.”

His father played 11 NFL seasons (1998-2007, ‘09), eight with the Eagles, and amassed 914 career tackles. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2005, and was an All-Pro in 2000. Trotter was inducted into the Eagles’ Hall of Fame in 2016.