NATCHEZ — Christian Jenkins and Dee Fleming, also known as “salt and pepper,” know how to shake, rattle and roll on the gridiron.

The Cathedral Green Wave running backs are the face of a Cathedral running game that has totaled more than 600 rushing yards in the first two games of the season.

They also come in a two-for-one package deal, dubbing themselves “salt and pepper” just before the season because of the color of their skin. What started out as a joke caught on around campus with teammates and coaches embracing the nickname of Cathedral’s one-two punch at running back.

“When I realized Dee was going to come over from Trinity (Episcopal), I was texting him one night and made a joke about it, and it just stuck,” Jenkins said.

In transferring from Trinity to Cathedral, Jenkins openly welcomed Fleming’s arrival, not worried about seeing his amount of carries diminish in 2014.

“I was excited about it because I knew he was going to help us a lot,” said Jenkins, who acknowledged he was more of the power back and Fleming was more of the speed back. “I tell you, carrying the ball 20 or 30 times a game is brutal. I needed some help.”

Upon Fleming’s arrival, the two clicked immediately, becoming workout partners and friendly companions.

“I knew of Christian before coming,” said Fleming, who is being recruited by Mississippi State. “I would hear around town how good of a ball player he was, but we never hung out before. Then after I joined, we started hanging out a lot.”

Little did Jenkins and Fleming know their self-imposed nickname at Cathedral has established Green Wave roots.

In the late 1970s, Scott McGaughey and Juan Thompson called themselves “salt and pepper,” before Ray Eidt and Darryl Woods carried on the tradition in the early 1980s. McGaughey, a linebacker and tight end, went on to play for Ole Miss, while Woods, a wide receiver, played for Air Force Academy.

Unbeknownst to Jenkins, he entitled Fleming and himself as the third generation “salt and pepper.”

When his father told him about the other two pairs Monday, Jenkins could hardly believe it.

“Just found out Monday, and that’s why it’s freaking me out because I had no idea,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins broke the news to Fleming later.

“What?” Fleming asked. “I did not know that. Are you kidding me?”

Eidt gave his approval for Fleming and Jenkins to carry on the legacy.

“I think it’s great,” Eidt said. “Obviously for me, it brings back great memories. It tells me that this team doesn’t have big egos, too. Any time you can shine a bright light on a white guy and a black guy becoming close, it’s great.”

Eidt remembers those days quite fondly, having been a manager for Cathedral during the first incarnation of “salt and pepper.”

“Because Darryl and I grew up in that era, they would kid with us and it stuck,” Eidt said. “It didn’t hurt that we were really good friends, too.”

The third generation salt and pepper share a similar bond. Instead of battling it out for rushing yards and carries, Fleming has 274 and Jenkins has 92 through two games, the running back duo encourages each other to represent salt and pepper as a whole.

“It’s always like, ‘let’s show them what salt and pepper is all about,’” Fleming said.