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The University of Mississippi Athletics
JJ Pegues Nominated for AFCA Good Works Team
7/17/2024 | Football
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Ole Miss football senior defensive tackle and Oxford's own JJ Pegues has been named one of a record 178 nominees for the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, as announced by both Allstate and the Wuerffel Foundation on Wednesday morning.
This is Pegues' second consecutive appearance as a nominee on the AFCA Good Works Team, which this year begins a partnership with the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy to mark college football's premier honors for community service.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. This year's 178 nominees champion causes including mental health awareness, youth mentorship, hunger relief, domestic abuse prevention, and many more. In addition to being actively involved with a charitable organization or service group, each player must also maintain strong academic standing to be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The Wuerffel Trophy – which Pegues was a watch list member for in 2023 as well – is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. The trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. Beginning this year, only FBS players elected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team are eligible for the honor, which replaces the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain.
On the field, Pegues has become a mainstay of the Ole Miss defense, playing in all 13 games for the Rebels in 2023 while starting 12. He ended the 2023 campaign with career highs in tackles (42), tackles for loss (8.0), sacks (3.5) and pass breakups (4) while also adding two QB hurries. Pegues – a former tight end – also further cemented his role as one of the nation's more versatile linemen, rushing for a crucial first down in Ole Miss' Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. In 2022, he hauled in a one-yard touchdown reception in the Egg Bowl.
Pegues is heavily active within the Lafayette-Oxford-University community, partaking in numerous community service events during his time at Ole Miss. Pegues – a member of the SEC Leadership Council, the SEC Community Service Team and the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – held his own community-wide school supply giveaway last fall, which helped distribute school supplies for elementary students.
Other community events Pegues has been part of include: the yearly Adopt-a-Basket program run by the Ole Miss athletics department, which donates more than 100 Thanksgiving baskets to local families; the yearly Feed the Sip program through the Stronger Together MS initiative, which has collected and donated more than 12,000 non-perishable food items to elementary students within Tunica and Quitman counties; Ole Miss' ongoing Reading with the Rebels program, which features student-athletes visiting local elementary schools to read to students to increase support for reading and literacy throughout the state of Mississippi; the local Boys and Girls Club after school programs; the local Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Back to School event that helps prepare foster students for the start of the school year; CASA's Adopt-a-Child program, which assists children during the holiday season; CASA's 5K Superhero Run fundraiser; the Tim Tebow Foundation's A Night to Shine event, which holds a community-wide prom for individuals with disabilities; former Rebel KD Hill's Back to School Bash, a fun event for local children ahead of the school year; assisting in the inaugural AJ Brown Foundation event hosted by the former Rebel and current NFL great; Ole Miss' water collection drive to assist residents of Jackson, Mississippi during the city's water crisis; and multiple cleanup and donation efforts to help communities throughout Mississippi affected by devasting tornadoes in the spring of 2023.
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About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 84 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 55 selections and the Big 12 Conference and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, both with 41 selections. Georgia is in first place with 23 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 17 honorees.
About the AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com.
About the Wuerffel Foundation
The Wuerffel Foundation is dedicated to supporting Danny Wuerffel's mission to inspire greater service and unity in the world, built on the three values of excellence, service and humility. As a recognized humanitarian, Danny mentors community leaders and connects them with philanthropic resources. The foundation annually presents the prestigious Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, and hosts the Desire Cup and PickleBowl events.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association, is college football's premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel, the award honors his commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world. Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the 1996 National Championship. As a humanitarian, he continues to inspire leaders to positively impact their communities. Danny currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation and Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries.
This is Pegues' second consecutive appearance as a nominee on the AFCA Good Works Team, which this year begins a partnership with the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy to mark college football's premier honors for community service.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. This year's 178 nominees champion causes including mental health awareness, youth mentorship, hunger relief, domestic abuse prevention, and many more. In addition to being actively involved with a charitable organization or service group, each player must also maintain strong academic standing to be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The Wuerffel Trophy – which Pegues was a watch list member for in 2023 as well – is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. The trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. Beginning this year, only FBS players elected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team are eligible for the honor, which replaces the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain.
On the field, Pegues has become a mainstay of the Ole Miss defense, playing in all 13 games for the Rebels in 2023 while starting 12. He ended the 2023 campaign with career highs in tackles (42), tackles for loss (8.0), sacks (3.5) and pass breakups (4) while also adding two QB hurries. Pegues – a former tight end – also further cemented his role as one of the nation's more versatile linemen, rushing for a crucial first down in Ole Miss' Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. In 2022, he hauled in a one-yard touchdown reception in the Egg Bowl.
Pegues is heavily active within the Lafayette-Oxford-University community, partaking in numerous community service events during his time at Ole Miss. Pegues – a member of the SEC Leadership Council, the SEC Community Service Team and the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – held his own community-wide school supply giveaway last fall, which helped distribute school supplies for elementary students.
Other community events Pegues has been part of include: the yearly Adopt-a-Basket program run by the Ole Miss athletics department, which donates more than 100 Thanksgiving baskets to local families; the yearly Feed the Sip program through the Stronger Together MS initiative, which has collected and donated more than 12,000 non-perishable food items to elementary students within Tunica and Quitman counties; Ole Miss' ongoing Reading with the Rebels program, which features student-athletes visiting local elementary schools to read to students to increase support for reading and literacy throughout the state of Mississippi; the local Boys and Girls Club after school programs; the local Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Back to School event that helps prepare foster students for the start of the school year; CASA's Adopt-a-Child program, which assists children during the holiday season; CASA's 5K Superhero Run fundraiser; the Tim Tebow Foundation's A Night to Shine event, which holds a community-wide prom for individuals with disabilities; former Rebel KD Hill's Back to School Bash, a fun event for local children ahead of the school year; assisting in the inaugural AJ Brown Foundation event hosted by the former Rebel and current NFL great; Ole Miss' water collection drive to assist residents of Jackson, Mississippi during the city's water crisis; and multiple cleanup and donation efforts to help communities throughout Mississippi affected by devasting tornadoes in the spring of 2023.
-----
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 84 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 55 selections and the Big 12 Conference and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, both with 41 selections. Georgia is in first place with 23 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 17 honorees.
About the AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com.
About the Wuerffel Foundation
The Wuerffel Foundation is dedicated to supporting Danny Wuerffel's mission to inspire greater service and unity in the world, built on the three values of excellence, service and humility. As a recognized humanitarian, Danny mentors community leaders and connects them with philanthropic resources. The foundation annually presents the prestigious Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, and hosts the Desire Cup and PickleBowl events.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association, is college football's premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel, the award honors his commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world. Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the 1996 National Championship. As a humanitarian, he continues to inspire leaders to positively impact their communities. Danny currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation and Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries.
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