Pegues possesses unmatched skillset

AUBURN | Just imagine a 6-foot-2, 298-pound quarterback running the read option, or H-back tacking a handoff or providing a lead block, or even a receiver catching ball over the middle or on screens.

Auburn’s opponents may see all that from true freshman Jeremiah Pegues this fall if Gus Malzahn has his way.

“He’s going to play our H-Back,” said Malzahn of the 2020 signee out of Oxford, Miss. “At the same time, he’s versatile enough that you can split him out and let him do his thing. I don’t know if there’s anybody else in the country that has the skillset that he has. He’ll play some Wildcat for us too.

“But he’s very, very versatile, and he’ll be a lot of fun to utilize and move him around on offense.”

Pegues, who is also a standout basketball player, certainly showed that versatility at Oxford high school where he rushed for 623 yards and 12 touchdowns on 92 carries and caught 36 passes for 607 yards and another six touchdowns as a senior.

He led Oxford to the Class 6A state championship in dramatic fashion rallying from a 21-3 halftime deficit to beat Oak Grove 31-21. Pegues caught three passes for 107 yards including 62-yard and 21-yard touchdowns in the second half, earning MVP honors.

He clinched the win with a fourth-down sack, which erased years of frustration after the Chargers lost state championship finals in 2003, 2013, 14 and 15.

The Tigers beat out Alabama and Ole Miss for Pegues’ signature on Signing Day.

“A guy that we identified as, really, one of the more versatile players in all the country,” Malzahn said. “He's a big guy. They snapped the ball to him from a wildcat. He's a running back. They split him out, throw slants, fades. Big-time basketball player. Really think, with our offense, that his skill set will really be utilized. Very excited about him. He's going to give us a lot of flexibility for the last couple of years. Really excited about JJ.”