JJ Pegues was a notable transfer addition for Ole Miss, and the former Auburn tight end/lineman has opened up about his reasons for leaving Auburn.

Pegues, an Oxford, Mississippi native, shared how he was homesick being at Auburn, and how much better it is to be closer to home with the Rebels. Ultimately, the coaching change caused him to re-consider being at Auburn, and finally make the move to Ole Miss.

“I know once the season was over with at Auburn, I just had second thoughts about the place there,” Pegues said, per the Clarion-Ledger. “I always wanted to come back (to Oxford) but I just never knew when. Once (former Auburn coach Gus) Malzahn left, I tried out the other staff. I really just didn’t like the environment and some of the coaches there. So I decided once I hit the transfer portal, I could come back. Ever since then, it’s been great. The community has been on my side. You get home-cooked meals from your grandma, it’s great.”

Pegues, who began his Auburn career as a tight end before he shifted to the defensive line, is practicing at nose tackle this spring looking to improve as a pass rusher. Although he has dipped his toe in the water on offense again, as a fullback and tight end.

His transfer to Ole Miss also makes up for his regret of not meeting with Lane Kiffin during his recruitment in high school because Pegues was in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game and didn’t want to disrupt his schedule.

“I loved The Grove,” Pegues said. “Just as a little kid, going out there and seeing how many people and seeing how excited they were to see Ole Miss players. Like I said, that’s one of the regrets I have about not talking to Kiffin.”