Abstract: A compactor assembly and method of utilization thereof to compact soil in a trench are provided that do not require the hydraulic boom to which the compactor assembly is mounted to exert downward pressure to effect compacting. A sheep's foot roller defined by a cylindrical surface with a plurality of feet extending radially therefrom is mounted for rotation with respect to an axle having a length less than the length of the roller. The axle is completely contained within the interior volume defined by the roller's cylindrical surface. A frame operatively mounts to a crawler excavator or the like, the frame including a pair of side plates, a top plate, and back plate, and the axle is mounted to the frame side plates so that the axle remains stationary with respect to the side plates and the roller rotates about the axis defined by the axle. Each of the feet comprises a solid member tapered to a truncated apex in a circumferential direction, and having a pair of parallel flat spaced sides in an axial direction.