Ole Miss walk-on wide receiver Josh Pfeifer gives his all to God, family, and his football team
OXFORD, Miss. — Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “There is only one way to succeed in anything…and that is to give it everything.”
For one Ole Miss football player, this adage is particularly true as he is pouring everything he has into the game he loves. While Rebel fans have gotten to know current Ole Miss receivers such as Jordan Watkins, Dayton Wade and Tre Harris, they haven’t had the opportunity — yet — to get to know Rebels’ walk-on wide receiver Joshua Pfeifer. The Rebel Walk had the opportunity to visit with Pfeifer recently. He opened up about the recruitment process he went through, his daily life as a student-athlete, and the values that drive him.
Josh Pfeifer (39) catches a pass in fall camp. (Photo credit: Ole Miss Athletics)
The recruitment challenge and choosing Ole Miss
Josh’s journey to Ole Miss was far from easy. Given the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted his junior and senior years of high school, he faced considerable challenges in getting noticed by college recruiters.
“The biggest way athletes were being recruited and getting all the stars was from going to camps, but no one was hosting anything (because of COVID),” Pfeifer explained. “I couldn’t go and get my name out there as much as I wanted. Coaches couldn’t even come to my games and watch. So it was really just the luck of the draw of sending them my film and hoping that they would see it and reply back.”
The only way for athletes to get their name out there at the time was by sending film and making connections through social media, particularly Twitter. Josh reached out to coaches, trying to stand out amidst thousands of aspiring athletes.
A stellar high school athlete, Josh received a series of preferred walk-on offers from various colleges, including Eastern Michigan, Memphis, Purdue, and eventually Ole Miss. The Ole Miss offer fulfilled his dream of playing in the SEC, marking a significant milestone in his football journey.
“I didn’t really believe it,” he said of the Ole Miss preferred walk-on offer.
“It was always my dream to play in the SEC, but it just seemed so far-fetched. Even after they called me, it didn’t really sink in that I got that (Ole Miss) offer, until I told my family and they were all excited. I was like, ‘this is really kind of a big deal.’”
Josh Pfeifer on getting an offer from Ole Miss
Josh had a decision to make. He considered Eastern Michigan — the school where his father and Colosseum Athletics Executive Vice President John Pfeifer played wide receiver — as well as Purdue, but ultimately didn’t want to go up north. His close connection to the South and his family played a pivotal role in his choice. He explored other schools like Memphis but felt a strong sense of belonging during his visit to Ole Miss. The atmosphere and coaching staff gave him the feeling of home, solidifying his decision to walk on at Ole Miss.
“I went with my parents and brothers on my own visit to Memphis and saw their spring game. And then immediately after, we came and watched an Ole Miss scrimmage. When I was here, I just had that ‘home’ feeling. Right away, I knew it seemed like a nice fit. So after that scrimmage, I texted Coach (Derrick) Nix, the wide receivers coach, and told him that I was going to come here as a preferred walk-on,” Josh said.
Josh Pfeifer: “Turn Up or Transfer”
The Impact of Coach Derrick Nix
Coach Nix is Josh’s wide receiver coach at Ole Miss, and it’s clear he’s made a big impact on Josh both on and off the field.
“He’s probably the best coach I’ve ever had. He’s been coaching for, I think, now 30 plus years or so. He played in college, and it’s his knowledge of the game. He also coached running backs here before coaching receivers. He brings in a different perspective in the receiver room. As a player, you get to learn more about the game because he doesn’t just teach what routes you run on each play. He’ll teach us the coverages of the defense, obviously, but he shows us what the o-line is doing, what the protection is, what the running back is doing. So once you get to see the whole picture of the play, everything flows together and you understand your job more and why you’re running the route you’re running — instead of just, ‘go 10 yards and go out.’”
Josh Pfeifer on Coach Nix
Coach Nix has helped Josh’s love for football grow even more than it already was. “Why I love football more is that now I’m learning more about it and the uniqueness of the game,” Josh commented. “And I can thank Coach Nix for that because he’s really taught me a lot more than I ever would have known.”
Coach Nix isn’t just a great x’s and o’s coach; he’s also someone his players look up to.
“He really is a good guy because he’s one of those open coaches you can go to with any questions or concerns that you have. And he’s like another father figure to us. Every receiver in the room would say that, too. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
Josh Pfeifer on Coach Nix
Balancing Academics and Athletics
While he’s learning football from Coach Nix, Josh is also learning in the classroom, amassing quite a large number of honors and awards along the way. He excels academically, holding a 4.0 GPA, majoring in Sport Recreation and Administration.
His academic honors are impressive: SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2022; Chancellor’s Honor Roll in fall 2021, spring 2022, and spring 2023; Dean’s Honor Roll in fall 2021, spring 2022, fall 2022, and spring 2023; and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in fall 2021, spring 2022, fall 2022 and spring 2023.
“My parents instilled in me, when you do something to be the best at it,” Josh said. It’s clear he took that message to heart.
For the Love of the Game
Josh’s deep love for football was evident throughout our interview. The demand on a student-athlete’s time — especially at the SEC level — is hard to fathom, and doing so without any scholarship and having to pay your own way is never easy.
“The love of the game is pretty much what keeps me in it, because this is one of the toughest sports there is, not only physically, but mentally. Someone said that it’s 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical, but I’d even argue is more mental than that. But, yeah, I definitely love this game more than anything.”
Josh Pfeifer
Josh Pfeifer with his dad, John, and mom, Karen.
The Moment Arrives: Taking the field for the first time
We all have heard the stories of the relentless demands of football practices, strength and condition programs, and balancing school and athletics, but that’s all exacerbated when one is playing in the best conference in college football. For a walk-on, there is no guarantee they will see playing time or even get to suit up for a game or make the travel squad. They’re playing a competitive game in the most competitive league.
But perseverance and hard work do pay off. Josh is living proof of that.
After being on the team for two seasons now, Josh got to take the field for the first time on the final series against Vanderbilt last weekend. It’s hard to even imagine what that was like for him — and for his family — after two years of pouring his whole heart and soul and blood, sweat and tears into the program.
We asked Josh to describe the experience.
“It was one of the coolest moments of my life. I heard coach Heath (Dedeaux) screaming my name coming down the sideline, and he grabbed me and said I was going in and it was a moment I’ll never forget. It was almost like a big weight fell off my shoulders because all the hard work had finally seemed to pay off. After stepping on the field, it made me realize all over again why I wanted to play this game in the first place and I have a whole new motivation to get back on to that field and make plays. I never will understand how God works and the plans He has for me, but one thing I do know is ever since I put my complete trust in Him and stopped trying to doubt His ways, I can see how blessed I really am.”
Josh Pfeifer on getting to take the field vs. Vandy
And as one would expect, Josh’s next comment about getting into the game embodies his love for his family.
“Being on the field during the game itself was surreal, and there was nothing like it, but I think the coolest part to me was seeing the excitement of my family and friends who have supported me and how proud they were,” he said.
A family affair
Josh’s early exposure to sports through his family, especially his father and brothers, kindled his passion for competition. In addition to his father’s collegiate football experience as a wide receiver, Josh’s grandfather, Chuck Lovinski, played quarterback at West Virginia while his brother, Zach, played receiver at Chattanooga.
Josh Pfeifer with his dad, John, at an Ole Miss game.
Like many younger brothers, Josh wanted to beat the elder brothers.
“Having two older brothers, I always wanted to find something I could beat them in,” he said. “Football, it took me a while because they were always bigger and faster and stronger, but that’s what made me want it more is to be better than them at that. What made me fall in love with it was just the competition of it. And then, obviously, God gave me the talents to be able to be good at it. It made me fall in love with it more when I kind of had some success with it.”
And he definitely had success with it. A four-year letterwinner at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Pfeifer tallied 41 receptions for 440 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. He earned team MVP and All-Region honors in 2020, hauling in 52 catches for 539 yards and four TDs. The multi-sport athlete also lettered in basketball and track.
Community involvement
Apart from his football career and academics, Josh actively gives back to his community. Recently, he participated in a local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation event in Oxford as it’s a cause close to his heart. When his place in Oxford was not yet available, Josh was welcomed in by Ole Miss Rebels Molly and Ed Meisenheimer who offered him a place to stay until his housing was available.
Two of Molly and Ed’s grandsons have Cystic Fibrosis and they hold an annual cornhole tournament to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Josh was happy to be able to participate.
Josh Pfeifer (far right) participated in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fund raiser in Oxford recently. (Photo courtesy of Molly Meisenheimer)
“I really wanted to do it, because obviously everything’s bigger than me. That’s why I love to volunteer because I want to give back. Many of these kids (with cystic fibrosis) would want to be in my position (as an SEC athlete). Unfortunately, it’s more of a challenge. So I want to be there for them and show them that they do have people on their side for everything.“
Josh Pfeifer
Molly says it’s been wonderful getting to know Josh and having him as such a fine example to her grandchildren.
“Josh is exactly the type of young person we hope our six grandsons and one granddaughter grow up to be like,” Molly said. “He is as fine as they come.”
Josh teaches the ‘Heisman pose’ to three of the Meisenheimer’s grandchildren. (Photo courtesy of Molly Meisenheimer)
God, family, school and football
Throughout our interview, Josh continued to express what his faith means to him and the importance of having God in his life, what a source of strength his family is to him and, of course his love for the game of football.
“I go back to the saying that my dad would always use with our family, ‘God, family, school, and football,’” Josh told us. “He always says these are your priorites, and always put God first in everything you do. I know without God, none of this would be possible. I’m always thankful to God, first. He’s the reason I’m doing anything.”
It is evident Pfeifer’s close-knit family plays a huge role in Josh’s life.
“Second is always family, and I put them right after God,” he told us. “They’re my life. They have always supported me, and they have taught me everything I know. My two brothers are my best friends; my parents (John and Karen) really are my best friends, too. They’re kinda my rock and everything. I’m always grateful for all of them.”
The Pfeifer family (left to right): John, Karen, Josh, Zach and Cade.
But after his faith and his family, there’s that ever-burning love for the game of football. A love so deep that he’s willing to do — for free — what others are given scholarships or paid vast sums of NIL money for.
Josh Pfeifer on the Walk of Champions.
He shares this love of football with his other fellow walk-ons at Ole Miss as all of them continue to pursue their dreams on the gridiron.
“My love for the game, I feel like is up there with anybody else,” Pfeifer says.
“What keeps me and the other walk-ons going is that we just love this game and just want to be a part of it. It’s not always easy when you feel like doing something, but you’re still just not quite in a spot that you want to be. Everybody wants to be playing, but that’s not possible. It’s hard to keep going, but there’s that love for the game, the burning fire in you to want to keep going. That’s kind of unique because, really, there’s no reason we ‘have’ to be here. We just love the game and want to.”
Josh Pfeifer on his and fellow walk-on’s love of the game
Josh Pfeifer’s journey to Ole Miss and his dedication to being the best servant to Christ, the best son, grandson and brother, and the best student-athlete are a testament to his character and values. He is relentlessly pursuing his dream with his family support and the love of the game. As he continues his football career at Ole Miss, Josh’s passion for the sport and desire to make a difference in the lives of others remain at the forefront of his journey.
Ole Miss fans should be proud to have Josh Pfeifer as such a great representative of the university and its football team. Keep an eye out for No. 39!
Hotty Toddy!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
