JJ Pegues DT Ole Miss | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
JJ Pegues DT Ole Miss
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: NT/DT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.15 seconds (40%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: NT/DT | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.15 seconds (40%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 80.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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66% |
| Pass Rush: |
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65% |
| Run Defense: |
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80% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#187
Position rank:
#42
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 1614 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Young - Mississippi State |
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85% |
| Taron Vincent - Ohio State |
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77% |
| Haskell Garrett - Ohio State |
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76% |
Drafted: ROUND: 6 - Pick Number: 180 (LV)
Draft Profile: Bio
A former tight end turned defensive tackle, JJ Pegues has carved out one of the most unique paths to the NFL draft in recent memory. The Oxford, Mississippi native started his collegiate career at Auburn where he showed his versatility as a tight end before transitioning to the defensive line. After transferring to Ole Miss in 2022, Pegues found his true calling in the trenches while maintaining his offensive role as a short-yardage specialist, setting an SEC record for touchdowns by a defensive lineman in 2024.Pegues' journey from high school phenom to SEC difference-maker speaks volumes about his athletic potential. At Oxford High School, he dominated as a 270-pound tight end who could play anywhere on the field, leading his team to a Class 6A state championship. His rare blend of size and agility earned him four-star ratings across the board from major recruiting services. After two seasons at Auburn, including a position switch to defensive tackle, Pegues transferred to Ole Miss where he evolved into a disruptive force on defense while moonlighting as an automatic touchdown machine in goal-line situations.
In his final season at Ole Miss, Pegues showcased his development as a defensive tackle while continuing to make history on offense. His ability to contribute on both sides of the ball helped the Rebels to a successful campaign, capped off by a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. Beyond the field, Pegues distinguished himself as a Wuerffel Trophy nominee and earned a spot on the SEC Community Service Team, demonstrating the character NFL teams covet.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive first-step quickness off the snap - consistently wins the neutral zone battle and flashes dynamic penetration ability against zone concepts
- Stout at the POA with natural pad level and heavy hands - consistently sets a strong edge and holds his ground against zone/duo concepts
- Displays tremendous lateral COD ability for his frame, showing efficient footwork when working cross-face and executing T-E stunts effectively
- Rare two-way chess piece who demonstrates plus contact balance and kinetic vision as a short-yardage back - legitimate offensive weapon at the goal line
- Advanced play recognition and mental processing speed - quickly IDs trap blocks and combo schemes, maintaining gap integrity against zone flow
- Exhibits natural knee bend and ankle flexion through contact, allowing him to establish leverage and reset his anchor point against drive blocks
- Above-average competitive toughness shows up in pursuit - plays with consistent pad level and leverage through the whistle with plus backside effort
- Displays exceptional body control and spatial awareness in tight quarters - consistently maintains balance through trash while working down the LOS
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Raw hand mechanics and strike timing need development - often loses first meaningful contact and struggles to establish inside hand placement
- Limited pass rush repertoire beyond power moves - lacks counters when initial rush stalls and needs to develop secondary moves off his bull rush
- Base narrows against deuce blocks - will occasionally play too high through double teams, compromising his anchor and getting displaced laterally
- Processing speed lags against gap scheme variations - shows some hesitation against pull-wrap concepts and counter action in the run game
- Pass rush plan lacks sophistication - needs to develop his rush arc and hand fighting technique to consistently threaten edges in passing situations
Scouting Report: Summary
A powerful interior defender with rare athletic traits, Pegues transitioned from tight end to defensive tackle after transferring from Auburn to Ole Miss in 2022. His movement skills and explosiveness immediately stand out on film, particularly in his ability to fire off the ball and penetrate the backfield. The former skill position background manifests in his exceptional lateral mobility and pursuit ability, traits that separate him from traditional defensive tackles.Working primarily from 0 to 3-technique alignments, Pegues displays natural leverage and the functional strength to hold his ground against single blocks while showing development against double teams. His initial quickness and agility allow him to defeat zone blocking schemes, though his hand technique remains a work in progress. In the run game, he consistently maintains gap discipline while demonstrating the lateral quickness to work down the line and make plays outside his primary gap.
What sets Pegues apart is his proven effectiveness as a short-yardage specialist on offense, where his athleticism and instincts have made him a consistent threat in goal-line situations.
JJ Pegues percentiles vs other Defensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate JJ Pegues (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
121.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
39.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.