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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Hitting the Road
9/15/2022 | Football
<i class="icon-paper"></i> Lane Kiffin Transcript<i class="icon-video"></i> Lane Kiffin Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Nick Broeker Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Jared Ivey Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> JJ Pegues Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Isheem Young Press Conference<I class="icon-video"></i> JJ Henry Press Conference
Kiffin Meets with Media as Rebels Prepare for First Road Trip at Georgia Tech
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss football heads to Georgia Tech this weekend for its first road test of the 2022 season, bringing a new challenge for the still-forming Rebel team.
Head coach Lane Kiffin, along with defensive lineman Jared Ivey, offensive lineman Nick Broeker, defensive lineman JJ Pegues, safety Isheem Young and receiver JJ Henry, met with the media this week to preview the meeting with the Yellow Jackets.
NEW CHALLENGE AWAITS
Ole Miss sits at 2-0 and is coming off a smooth 59-3 victory over Central Arkansas, but the toughest challenge yet this season looms this weekend in Atlanta. The Rebels, laden with newcomers in all three phases of the game, will play outside the friendly confines of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first time—and they'll also face their first Power 5 opponent.
Kiffin was asked about the coming challenge of a major-conference opponent, and the Rebel head coach said he welcomes it, as long as his team can take care of business at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
"Yeah, as long as we win. Then that's all good," Kiffin said. "This is a different set of obstacles. Really talented team that played great early in Week 1 versus Clemson and played on five days' rest the other night and probably self-admitted, would say they started a little slow, which usually happens after a big game like that. And on the road. I've said all along, this transfer thing, there's good and bad. Everything's new. Now we've got to go on the road with all these guys who have never been on the road with us, and the challenges with that. It'll be a very big test for us."
The road trip with a new group will bring its challenges, and the Rebels will need the newcomers to settle in quickly. Ole Miss has seen enormous contributions from transfers over the past two seasons. In total, 22 transfers have started for the Rebels since 2020, more than any other team in the nation. Nine of those have come in just the first two games of this season.
"Outside of Luke's short run, every touchdown run, every touchdown pass, every touchdown reception, every return for a touchdown and every kick (vs. Central Arkansas) was made by a portal player from this offseason," Kiffin said. "That's a lot of guys doing right for 59 points. Good place to transfer to."
PEGUES AT HOME
One of the biggest transfer portal contributors for Ole Miss thus far isn't even one of the nine who have been in the starting lineup. JJ Pegues is yet to be on the field for the first defensive snap of the game, but he has made his presence known nonetheless.
"Unique player," Kiffin said of Pegues. "No disrespect, we really haven't had a D-tackle since we've been here that is explosive like this, who looks like what you always have to prepare against in the SEC. Usually there are a number of these guys around in the conference. He got dinged up, or we would've played him in a different game in the second half. Talking to him, he was good to go but not great, so I just held him in the second half. But he's doing a great job and he's a really cool kid to be around."
Pegues is well known around the Oxford community, having led the Oxford High School football team to a Class 6A state championship before heading to Auburn for his first two years of college. Pegues began his stint with the Tigers playing tight end before transitioning to D-line as a sophomore. Before his junior season, he decided to come home.
"We all get four tickets, so I'm asking other players for tickets. I know I probably had 20-some tickets for my family," Pegues said. "But it's been surreal, just being in the moment, taking it all in and just having fun."
It didn't take long for Pegues to show out in front of his friends and family. In the fourth quarter of his first game in red and blue, Pegues delivered a highlight-reel hit on Gunnar Watson, sending the Troy quarterback's helmet flying through the air. The Oxford native stepped up and threw the fins up sign, just like he saw Robert Nkemdiche and other Rebel greats do growing up.
"Coach Chris Partridge called a great call, put us in a great situation and I just made the play," Pegues said. "I didn't really know what to do, and I usually see on TV Nkemdiche and them throwing up landsharks. It was a surreal moment, just can't wait to throw more."
Head coach Lane Kiffin, along with defensive lineman Jared Ivey, offensive lineman Nick Broeker, defensive lineman JJ Pegues, safety Isheem Young and receiver JJ Henry, met with the media this week to preview the meeting with the Yellow Jackets.
NEW CHALLENGE AWAITS
Ole Miss sits at 2-0 and is coming off a smooth 59-3 victory over Central Arkansas, but the toughest challenge yet this season looms this weekend in Atlanta. The Rebels, laden with newcomers in all three phases of the game, will play outside the friendly confines of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first time—and they'll also face their first Power 5 opponent.
Kiffin was asked about the coming challenge of a major-conference opponent, and the Rebel head coach said he welcomes it, as long as his team can take care of business at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
"Yeah, as long as we win. Then that's all good," Kiffin said. "This is a different set of obstacles. Really talented team that played great early in Week 1 versus Clemson and played on five days' rest the other night and probably self-admitted, would say they started a little slow, which usually happens after a big game like that. And on the road. I've said all along, this transfer thing, there's good and bad. Everything's new. Now we've got to go on the road with all these guys who have never been on the road with us, and the challenges with that. It'll be a very big test for us."
The road trip with a new group will bring its challenges, and the Rebels will need the newcomers to settle in quickly. Ole Miss has seen enormous contributions from transfers over the past two seasons. In total, 22 transfers have started for the Rebels since 2020, more than any other team in the nation. Nine of those have come in just the first two games of this season.
"Outside of Luke's short run, every touchdown run, every touchdown pass, every touchdown reception, every return for a touchdown and every kick (vs. Central Arkansas) was made by a portal player from this offseason," Kiffin said. "That's a lot of guys doing right for 59 points. Good place to transfer to."
PEGUES AT HOME
One of the biggest transfer portal contributors for Ole Miss thus far isn't even one of the nine who have been in the starting lineup. JJ Pegues is yet to be on the field for the first defensive snap of the game, but he has made his presence known nonetheless.
"Unique player," Kiffin said of Pegues. "No disrespect, we really haven't had a D-tackle since we've been here that is explosive like this, who looks like what you always have to prepare against in the SEC. Usually there are a number of these guys around in the conference. He got dinged up, or we would've played him in a different game in the second half. Talking to him, he was good to go but not great, so I just held him in the second half. But he's doing a great job and he's a really cool kid to be around."
Pegues is well known around the Oxford community, having led the Oxford High School football team to a Class 6A state championship before heading to Auburn for his first two years of college. Pegues began his stint with the Tigers playing tight end before transitioning to D-line as a sophomore. Before his junior season, he decided to come home.
"We all get four tickets, so I'm asking other players for tickets. I know I probably had 20-some tickets for my family," Pegues said. "But it's been surreal, just being in the moment, taking it all in and just having fun."
It didn't take long for Pegues to show out in front of his friends and family. In the fourth quarter of his first game in red and blue, Pegues delivered a highlight-reel hit on Gunnar Watson, sending the Troy quarterback's helmet flying through the air. The Oxford native stepped up and threw the fins up sign, just like he saw Robert Nkemdiche and other Rebel greats do growing up.
"Coach Chris Partridge called a great call, put us in a great situation and I just made the play," Pegues said. "I didn't really know what to do, and I usually see on TV Nkemdiche and them throwing up landsharks. It was a surreal moment, just can't wait to throw more."
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballPRESSER | Caleb Odom (04-16-26)
Thursday, April 16
PRESSER | Izaiah Hartrup (04-16-26)
Thursday, April 16
PRESSER | Antonio Kite (04-16-26)
Thursday, April 16
PRESSER | Pete Golding (04-14-26)
Tuesday, April 14