Ole Miss DL JJ Pegues discusses the Peach Bowl and his decision to return for 2024 season: ‘I feel like this is a special place’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss senior defensive tackle JJ Pegues met with the media on Tuesday as the Rebels prepare for their matchup with No. 10 Penn State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Pegues announced after the Egg Bowl that his time in college was not over and he will return for one more season. He talked about when he knew what his decision would be.
“Right when we knew we could make history here [at Ole Miss] if we go out and win this bowl game,” Pegues explained. “With me being from here and the new playoff [expansion] coming, it’s different.”
Pegues was the first of a number of Rebels to announce his decision to return for another season with the hopes of going all the way.
“Other guys said, ‘if he can do it I can do it too.’ What really went into it for me was I needed to craft my work in the run and pass game. That was a big reason for why I came back — and I get one more year of my grandma’s cooking.”
JJ Pegues
“For me, I need to finalize and just clean up some stuff regarding my d-line work,” Pegues continued. “Played two years [on the defensive line] maybe just isn’t enough for me. I just want to get another year under my belt.”
He also added that Ole Miss is a special place, both for the returning seniors and for the new guys coming in.
“The ones who are already on this team, know the system and ways to win and that will go a long way,” he added.
He talked about the decisions of the seniors with an additional year of eligibility who have elected to join him in returning.
“I feel like it was mostly on their own,” Pegues said of their choices. “You really can’t just go up to anyone and convince them to come back. I feel like this is a special place and they know we’ve got special guys here – and there’s also special guys coming in.”
Pegues was asked if he and the team have a feel for 2024, a season that could set up to be another memorable one for the squad with so many returning.
“We really haven’t focused on [2024],” Pegues said. “We’re really just focused on our next opponent, which is Penn State. I’ll have to get back to you on that one, because we’re locked in on this game.”
Pegues talked about the types of challenges for the Rebels when watching Penn State.
“They are a great football team. They are ranked No. 10 and have a good offensive line, good running game and a great defense. They are really known for their defense and we just have to come prepared and not make the little mistakes.”
JJ Pegues on Penn State
‘It’s a different vibe….’
Going into the 2024 season the Ole Miss football program has a lot of momentum moving forward into the new playoff format.
“I, for real, feel it,” Pegues said.
“It’s a different vibe going on at practice knowing people are returning and coming in. We can go do something special against Penn State. We know what kinda team we have because we have a lot of returning guys which makes the playoffs special knowing what we have to do and get accomplished and the grind that goes into it.”
JJ Pegues
Pegues added that the guys coming in out of the transfer portal see something special here.
“It’s serious, but Kiffin likes to have fun which makes it fun for us,” he said.
With the Rebels going just a few hours away to play in the Peach Bowl, the reaction for the players was basically ‘we get the whole city in Atlanta,’ Pegues said.
Jared Ivey Joins Pegues
After Pegues announced that he was coming back, fellow defensive lineman and team leader Jared Ivy followed and announced he, too, would be returning.
“Another captain and I get to feed off each other back and forth. He is a great player, but mostly he is a great guy. He will tell you what’s up like if you aren’t doing right he is going to tell you right then and there.”
JJ Pegues on teammate Jared Ivey
Next Up:
Kickoff for the Peach Bowl is set for 11:00 a.m. (CT) on Saturday Dec. 30. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Adam Brown
Adam Brown joins The Rebel Walk as the Managing Editor after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 11 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
