Derek Pegues Derek Alan Pegues ( born September 14 , 1986 in Batesville , Mississippi ) is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent . Personal . He is the cousin of former NFL Linebacker Dwayne Rudd . Pegues attended the same high school as Rudd , South Panola , which also produced current Pittsburgh Steelers starting Cornerback Deshea Townsend , Rudd ' s teammate in high school and college , at the University of Alabama . High school career . 2003 ( Junior ) . Pegues enjoyed an outstanding prep career at South Panola High School in Batesville , Mississippi . After starting at Cornerback for the South Panola Tigers as a sophomore during the 2002 season , which saw the team go 14 - 1 with their only loss coming from Wayne County High School in the MHSAA Class 5A ( for Mississippi ' s largest schools ) Championship game , by a score of 14 - 21 , Pegues was moved to Quarterback to replace departed starter Rickey Wright , who had signed a letter of intent to play football at Mississippi State . In his first season at the helm of the Tigers ' offense as a junior ( 2003 ) , Pegues guided the team to a 15 - 0 record , the Class 5A State Championship and a # 9 national ranking from USA Today . South Panola routed previously unbeaten Oak Grove High School 33 - 14 in the 5A title game . Pegues received First - Team All - State recognition from the " Clarion - Ledger " newspaper along with teammates Jamarca Sanford and Peria Jerry , former South Panola Linebackers went on to standout careers with University of Mississippi ' s football team and now play in the NFL . 2004 ( Senior ) . Prior to his 2004 senior season , Rivals . com reported that Pegues could bench press an impressive 350 lb . and run a blazing 4 . 4 - second 40 - yard dash . These numbers affirmed his talent as indicated by his accomplishments on the field and helped him earn scholarship offers from such elite college football programs as Alabama , Michigan , Auburn , Tennessee and Louisiana State in addition to Mississippi State . Pegues again guided the Tigers to a perfect season ( 15 - 0 ) in 2004 with a second consecutive 5A State Championship ( the school ' s 4th ) and another top - ten finish in USA Today ' s " Super 25 " high school football rankings ( # 7 ) . He was instrumental in the Tigers ' 39 - 21 State Championship Game victory over Ocean Springs High School as he rushed for 244 yards and 5 touchdown s . No player before or since has scored 5 touchdowns in the Class 5A Championship Game . Pegues was again named First - Team All - State by the " Clarion - Ledger " , along with teammates Travis Sanford , a Wide Receiver who signed with the Ole Miss Rebels , and John Jerry , currently a starting Offensive Guard at Ole Miss . He finished his high school career with a total of 4 , 104 rushing yards and 86 total touchdowns ( passing , rushing , receiving , kick and punt returns and interception returns ) . All Star Games . 2005 Army All - American Game . Pegues was selected to play in the 5th annual U . S . Army All - American Bowl in San Antonio , Texas on January 15 , 2005 . The game pits the nation ' s best high school seniors against one another in an East - vs . - West matchup . Pegues , a member of the West squad , was one of three Mississippians who played in the game , the most ever in the same year ( the other two were Jerrell Powe , a former Ole Miss signee , and Josh McNeil , currently the starting Center for the Tennessee Volunteers ) . Powe , McNeil and Pegues joined a star - studded West line - up , including names like Travis Beckum , Jamaal Charles , DeSean Jackson , Rey Maualuga , Ryan Perriloux , Ryan Reynolds , Mark Sanchez , Reggie Smith and Jonathan Stewart , helping the West claim the victory , 35 - 3 . Pegues ' performance in the game was spectacular ; he intercepted a pass , ran for a first down on a fake punt and wowed viewers by shutting down two of the nation ' s best players in East Wide Receiver s Fred Rouse and Patrick Turner , even though both players physically towered over his 5 ' 10 " frame at 6 ' 3 " and 6 ' 5 " , respectively . His performance earned him " Defensive Player of the Game " honors . 2005 Alabama - Mississippi Game . Later that year , Pegues would guide another team to an All - Star game victory . Pegues played Running Back in the Alabama - Mississippi All - Star Football Classic , which annually pits the best players from each state against one another . The game was held at its annual location , Ladd - Peebles Stadium in Mobile , Alabama , on June 4 , 2005 ( formerly a summer contest , it has since been moved to December ) . Pegues picked up 15 carries for 106 yards ( 7 . 1 average ) and a touchdown in a 21 - 18 Mississippi victory . He was again joined by his fellow Mississippi teammates from the Army Game , Wayne County ' s Jerrell Powe and Collins High ' s Josh McNeil , as well as Brookhaven ' s Jimmy Johns , an Alabama signee who had beaten Pegues for the " Mr . Football " award annually bestowed upon the State ' s best player . College career . 2005 ( Freshman ) . Saw action in all 11 games as a reserve Cornerback on defense , where he accumulated 14 tackles , forced a fumble , broke up two passes and intercepted one . Was also a starting kick return specialist ; ran back 28 kicks for and average of 20 yards , including a long of 51 . 2006 ( Sophomore ) . Started all 12 games at Cornerback on defense . Recorded 32 tackles , 1 . 5 tackles for a loss , five pass deflections and four interceptions . Also started all 12 games as a kick and punt return specialist . Returned 29 kickoffs an average of 23 . 7 yards , including a long of 61 . Returned 25 punts for an average of 14 yards and one touchdown , including a long of 81 . Was voted to the All - SEC Second Team by the SEC Coaches . 2007 ( Junior ) . Started all 13 games at Free Safety on defense . Recorded 50 tackles , two tackles for a loss , recorved a fumble , deflected seven passes and intercepted five . His 20 - yard interception return for a touchdown against Auburn was the difference in the game , which Mississippi State won for the first time since 2000 . Also started all 13 games as a kick and punt return specialist . Returned 24 kickoffs an average of 22 . 7 yards , including a long of 51 . Returned 27 punts for an average of 9 . 9 yards , including a long of 75 , which resulted in a touchdown that tied the 2007 Egg Bowl in the fourth quarter , allowing MSU to win the game on a last - second field goal . Was voted to the All - SEC First Team by the Associated Press and Second Team by the SEC Coaches . He intercepted two passes on his way to an MVP performance in the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl that helped his team win a defensive struggle over UCF by a score of 10 - 3 . 2008 ( Senior ) . As a two - time All - SEC performer ( 2006 - 2007 ) , Pegues has been a crucial piece of State ' s defense , one of the nation ' s most improved units in 2007 . He will be a Cornerback prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft . NFL career . He actually shows a 4 . 69 forty yard dash according to the NFL Combine listing under cornerbacks http : / / www . nfl . com / combine / top - performers ? tabIndex = 0 .