‘We are Ole Miss and we are a blue-collar football team:’ JJ Pegues discusses the Rebels’ mindset as they prepare to face Alabama
OXFORD, Miss. — Oxford native and current defensive tackle JJ Pegues began his college career at Auburn University before transferring home to Ole Miss. The last time Pegues played in Bryant-Denny Stadium was in the midst of the 2020 COVID season and there were a limited number of fans allowed in the stadium.
That won’t be the case when the No. 15 Rebels take on the Tide Saturday.
Auburn was defeated, 42-13, in 2020 and Pegues, who played tight end as a freshman for the Tigers, hauled in two receptions for 17 yards. But in contrast to playing in a half-empty stadium then, Pegues is expecting to see a full crowd with a profusion of powder blue in the crowd this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
“The first time we played was COVID year. It was still a big crowd there, but there weren’t a lot of Auburn fans when I played there, but it’s a great atmosphere. I know all of the fans are going to be there and we are going to have a little section (of Rebels) that they’ll probably put at the top, but you know, we just have to beat it,” Pegues said earlier this week.
Despite playing in the seventh-largest college football stadium in the country this Saturday, Pegues says the Rebels are preparing as if this is just another game.
“You just have to go in like it’s any other opponent and have the mindset that we are Ole Miss and we are a blue-collar football team and we are coming on an away game to get a win.”
JJ Pegues on playing Alabama
Pegues believes he is working well in new defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s scheme. “I fit right in,” Pegues said.
“[Golding] uses our talent to help out the linebackers, safeties, and defensive line. He schemes everything up very well and I’m confident in the (gameplan) that we have this week.”
JJ Pegues
As JJ and the defense prepare for No. 13-ranked Alabama, he explains that the best way to challenge Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will be to keep him in the pocket and force him to pass downfield.
“You tweak things here and there, but at the end of the day we just want to push the pocket. ”Coach [Randall] Joyner has a great rush plan for us going in. I feel like we’ll be able to handle [Milroe].”
JJ Pegues on facing Milroe
Milroe has only passed for 449 yards with a 60 percent completion rate and two interceptions. He was benched after Alabama’s 34-24 loss to then-No. 11 Texas in Week 2; however, the Ole Miss defense will have its plate full Saturday as Milroe is mobile and has a strong arm.
Regardless of Milroe’s early struggles, Pegues is well aware of how talented the redshirt sophomore is, pointing out several aspects of the Katy, Texas native’s impressive skill set. “Milroe is a great dual-threat quarterback. He can run it but he can also sling it,” Pegues said.
Even with the difficult task of keeping Milroe contained, Pegues believes he and the Ole Miss defense will be prepared. “I am very confident in the scheme that we have this week,” Pegues said.
As well as Pegues’ effective defensive role, his experience at tight end has also allowed him to be used as an extra blocker when the Rebels are on the goal line. He displayed this versatility a number of times in 2022 and was used for the first time against Georgia Tech to get Jaxson Dart into the endzone for a one-yard run.
Ole Miss DT JJ Pegues doing work on the goal line😤 pic.twitter.com/iZJSDA3Z2B
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) September 17, 2023
With that kind of incredible athleticism, fans should be on the lookout for number 89 on both sides of the ball this Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on CBS.
