Hometown hero J.J. Pegues leads defense in final season

JJ Pegues rushes a MTSU offensive lineman during a game in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Sept. 7, 2024. Photo by Christian Tolliver.

Background

The Rebels defensive rock J.J. Pegues, a native of Oxford, Miss., began his football career at Oxford High School as a tight-end.

In 2019, Pegues and the Chargers won the Mississippi State 6A Championship. Pegues also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game where he was recognized as a game honoree.

Coming out of high school, Pegues was ranked nationally as a top ten tight-end prospect, and a top six overall recruit in Mississippi. Pegues signed with Auburn University in 2020.

Career highlights

Pegues started his college career at Auburn as a true freshman, finishing the season with seven receptions for 57 yards and 14 total rushing yards.

During spring practice in 2021, Pegues switched over to defensive line, finishing the season with two starts and 16 total tackles.

After the 2021 season, Pegues transferred to Ole Miss, coming back to his hometown to play on the Rebels’ defensive line.

In 2022, Pegues totaled 26 tackles with five tackles for loss, four rushing yards and caught a touchdown pass against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.

Returning for the 2023 season, Pegues started in 12 games and played a total of 619 snaps. He was rated the Rebels’ top tackler with an 85.1 tackler grade, and was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List, the Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch List and was an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee.

At the conclusion of the Rebels’ historic 11-win season, Pegues had 42 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and three and a half sacks.

That year, Ole Miss ended the season with a victory over No. 10 Penn State in the NY6 Peach Bowl.

Prior to the start of the highly anticipated 2024 season, Pegues was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watchlist and was awarded the 2024 Chucky Mullins Courage Award. Pegues wears the

No. 38 jersey and a special No. 38 patch for home games and his original jersey number, No. 89, at away games.

So far this season, Pegues has 15 total tackles, five tackles for loss, five rushing attempts for 17 yards and two touchdowns, including four tackles in the Rebels’ 20-17 loss to Kentucky on Sept. 28.

What’s next?

Pegues and the Rebels look to redeem themselves against South Carolina on the road on Oct. 5 in Columbia S.C. This will be the first SEC road contest for Ole Miss this season.