Skip to content JJ Pegues is an intriguing defensive tackle prospect available in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the Ole Miss star and former Auburn player is not just your average run-stuffer to plug on a defensive line
Coming out of high school, Pegues was a tight end who recorded 7 catches for 51 yards during his freshman season with the Tigers. He transitioned to the defensive line as a sophomore, but it wasn’t until he transferred to Ole Miss that Pegues began getting used as a 2-way star.
After a receiving touchdown in 2022 and limited usage as a ball carrier in 2023, Pegues was a major short-yardage weapon for Lane Kiffin in 2024. He carried the ball 21 times and registered 7 touchdowns this past season while also adding a career-high 14 TFL and 3.5 sacks.
In a recent discussion from PFF, Pegues was described as “big man Travis Hunter” in reference to Colorado’s 2-way phenom and Heisman Trophy winner who is expected to be a top-5 pick in the draft. While Pegues cannot match that kind of draft stock, his impact can be seen on both sides of the ball.
“At 320+ pounds, way more athletic than he should. It’s seen on both sides of the ball,” describes one analyst. “It starts on the defensive side. He’s gradually gotten better each year at Ole Miss, turned into a really solid run defender and someone who I even think, for his size, is more versatile than you might think.”
The discussion went on to reference Pegues’s experience in the backfield, where he registered 9 forced missed tackles in his limited usage.
We’ll see where Pegues winds up to begin his NFL journey and whether or not he gets to continue his 2-way prowess at the next level.
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
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