Auburn’s 300-pound wildcat quarterback J.J. Pegues is worth meeting

If you didn’t know who J.J. Pegues is, you do now

The Auburn Tigers are taking on the Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday afternoon, and while it’s not Pegues debut on the Plains, SEC fans very well might be meeting him for the first time. Even the most passionate Alabama supporter must have some fun with the idea of J.J. Pegues, listed at 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, running wild on the Arkansas defense. He’s a forced to be reckoned with, and he deserves recognition as a legitimate weapon for Gus Malzahn.

“He’s a different breed, for sure,” Auburn tight end John Samuel Shenker said about his teammate. “When he came in, everybody, ‘Oh gosh, he’s got to lose weight, he’s got to do this to play.’ But, I mean, it’s not a loose 300 pounds. It’s a solid 300. He’s super athletic. He runs routes just like everybody else. It looks natural.”

Pegeus is a multi-sport behemoth

Pegues actually played basketball in high school as a rather large point guard. His mobility is a strength, and while his size takes some getting used to, Auburn realized exactly how imposing he can be with the ball in his hands.

Pegues is technically a tight end, and he’s used in that role at Auburn. Yet, as we’ve seen with Taysom Hill with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, Malzahn’s creativity and willingness to listen to his players has put Pegues in a position to succeed, and make a bigger impact early on with the Tigers.

A loss to Georgia last week put a damper on Auburn’s SEC Title hopes, but it might’ve been the wakeup call Malzahn needed. If Pegues can play any role in revitalizing this offense, typically led by Bo Nix, it’s worth a look.

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