Q&A with JJ Pegues, a man of many talents on the football field

Aug 11, 2025 at 09:16 AM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

As the Raiders' 2025 draft picks go through their first NFL training camp, Raiders.com's Levi Edwards is sitting down with each player for a Q&A.

Here is a look at sixth-round pick JJ Pegues.

Levi Edwards: How did your position change from tight end to defensive tackle heading into college come about?

JJ Pegues: "My whole life I played offense. I played receiver, running back and quarterback in high school. I got recruited as a tight end at Auburn, went to Auburn for two years and my second year at Auburn we had a new coach and we only had four D-linemen on the roster. So Coach Eason, who was our defensive line coach at the time, he asked me if I wanted to go over and play defensive line. I didn't want to be selfish, I wanted to do whatever we've got to do to win. So I went over and played defensive line in fall camp and after that I've been playing there [since]."

LE: What was it like to transfer from Auburn to Ole Miss, considering you're an Oxford, Mississippi, native?

JP: "It was definitely a blessing. That's where I grew up, that's where I was grounded at. All of my best friends in high school get to come and watch the games. It was literally like playing football in my backyard. For me, all my teammates used to call me 'The Mayor' just because everybody knew who I was and everybody was always shouting me out. Those little things, those little moments and me being able to give back to community of Oxford definitely was a blessing."

LE: You also played fullback at Ole Miss. Was it natural for you going back to playing on offense along with defensive tackle?

JP: "I would say so because it was the same mindset. You've gotta go put hands on somebody and that's something I really, really enjoy doing. I would say it was definitely natural for me because I understand the O-line from being in the tight end room before. I understand the blocking schemes. It actually helps me on defense as well with what the offense is doing so it slows the game down for me. When I get the ball, I'm living every big boy's dream. Getting touchdowns, being able to truck and juke people. I'm big but that's what I used to do back in high school, so it was nothing new for me."

LE: What's been the biggest culture shook going from Mississippi to Nevada?

JP: "Mississippi is definitely humid. The humidity is crazy out in Mississippi, you can't breathe. It's like a sauna out there. Here, it's like a oven. You open up a oven and it's straight heat. And if you look around, it's straight mountains. You're not seeing that Mississippi. It's trees everywhere, that's all you're seeing there. In Mississippi, you can go hunting and fishing whenever you want to and it's going to rain. I don't even think it rains in Vegas. I brought my rain jacket and it ain't even raining out here. So I've got to change the wardrobe up. Definitely a culture shock, but it's something I needed to just get away from the South and learn new things."

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Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) on the field for practice at 2025 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.