Luis Perez (American football)

Luis Perez
San Antonio Commanders
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1994-08-26) August 26, 1994
San Diego, California
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school: Otay Ranch
(Chula Vista, California)
College: Texas A&M–Commerce
Undrafted: 2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Harlon Hill Trophy (2017)
  • NCAA Division II national champion (2017)
  • First Team All-American (2017)
  • First Team All-Lone Star Conference (2017)
  • Lone Star Conference Champion (2016)
  • First Team All-Lone Star Conference (2016)
  • Harlon Hill Trophy Nominee (2016)
  • Lone Star Conference Champion (2015)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Luis Francisco Perez (born August 26, 1994) is an American football quarterback for the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). He played college football at Texas A&M-Commerce from 2016-2017. Prior to that, he played junior college football at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California. He was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2017 as the best football player in NCAA Division II and led the Lions to their second National Championship in football during the 2017 season, their first since 1972.

Early years

Perez was born in San Diego, California to Juan and Carla Perez. His father was a professional soccer player in his native country of Mexico. Perez grew up in the Rancho Del Rey neighborhood of Chula Vista, California and started playing quarterback at a young age and for Junior High. He attended Otay Ranch High School. Perez played sub-varsity football his first two years in addition to basketball. He was moved to tight end to play in ORHS's Wing T offense, but stopped playing football, never playing varsity football at Otay Ranch High. He graduated from Otay Ranch in 2012.[1]

College career

Southwestern College

Perez walked on at Southwestern College in his hometown of Chula Vista. He started 9th of 9 quarterbacks on the depth chart for the Jaguars, but eventually became the starter due to injuries and transfers of other players. He played roughly half the season before injuring his leg. He started again the next season and led the Jaguars to a conference title and all conference honors.[2][3]

Texas A&M-Commerce

Perez (#12) playing QB against Tarleton State in 2017

Perez transferred to play for Texas A&M-Commerce, a Division II school in Northeast Texas. He red-shirted his first year on campus during the 2015 season while the Lions won their second straight Lone Star Conference title with fellow Southern California native Harrison Stewart as the starting quarterback. The 2015 Lions qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since 1995.[4][5]

Perez nabbed the starting quarterback job over fellow redshirt transfer Gabriel Rodriguez in 2016. In doing so, he became the first player of Mexican-American or Hispanic descent to start at quarterback for the Lions. The Lions won 10 regular season games and repeated as Lone Star conference champions. The Lions defeated Colorado-Mesa in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, their first win in the Division II playoffs since 1991, before bowing out to the Grand Valley State Lakers in the second round. Perez was first team all-conference, a Harlon Hill Award nominee, and Honorable Mention All-American.[6][7]

In 2017, Perez and the Lions went 10-1 in the regular season and finished second in the Lone Star Conference behind Midwestern State University and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third straight year. The Lions defeated Winona State in the first round of the playoffs 20-7 and then knocked off the top ranked team in the region, the Central Washington Wildcats, in a double overtime thriller, 34-31. In the Super Region 4 final, the Lions defeated a heavily favored Minnesota State-Mankato team by a 31-21 score, setting them up to host the National semi-final against the Harding Bison at Memorial Stadium in Commerce. It was the first appearance in the semifinals since the 1980 season when the Lions advanced to the NAIA national semi-finals. The Lions downed the Bison's top ranked rushing attack 31-17 to advance to the National title game. Prior the national title game, Perez was awarded with the Harlon Hill Trophy, as the best football player in Division II. The Lions defeated the West Florida Argonauts in the national title game, giving A&M-Commerce their second national title in school history and their first since joining the NCAA in 1982. Perez once again was first team all-LSC in addition to being named National Offensive player of the year, Lone Star Conference Offensive Back of the Year, and First Team All-American. He participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for his final college game.[8][9]

Statistics

Year Team Comp Att Pct. Yards YPA TD Int Rating
2013 Southwestern College 42 65 64.6 388 5.97 5 1 100.03
2014 Southwestern College 200 295 67.8 1,846 6.26 18 3 100.75
2015 Texas A&M–Commerce
Redshirt
2016 Texas A&M–Commerce 244 389 62.7 3,326 8.55 32 5 112.04
2017 Texas A&M–Commerce 421 596 70.6 5,001 8.39 46 11 113.94
Totals: 907 1,345 67.4 10,561 7.85 101 20 109.83

[10]

Awards

  • National champion (2017)
  • Harlon Hill Trophy (2017)[11]
  • 2× First Team All-Lone Star Conference (2016, 2017)[12]
  • Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-American (2016)[13] Don Hansen's 2nd Team All-Super Region 4.[14]
  • Second Team All-American (2017)[15]
  • 2× First Team All-American (2016, 2017)[16]
  • J.W. Rollins Award as the Lone Star Conference's Offensive Player of the Year[17]
  • Associated Press First Team All-American[18]
  • Association First Team All-American and Ron Lenz Division II Offensive Player of the Year[19]
  • Voted Best Returning Quarterback in DII Football (2016)[20]

Professional career

Perez was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, however he was invited to attend rookie mini-camp for the Los Angeles Rams. He officially signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2018.[21] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[22][23] He was released on September 18, 2018.[24]

Personal life

Perez has been married to his wife Brenda since 2015. He graduated from A&M-Commerce on December 14, 2017 along with his wife, the day before winning the National Title.

References

  1. ↑ Maffei, John. "Perseverance paying off for former Southwestern QB". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  2. ↑ "Luis Pérez le apunta a la NFL". Universo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  3. ↑ "Pérez le apunta a la NFL". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  4. ↑ "Luis Pérez le apunta a la NFL". Universo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  5. ↑ "Pérez le apunta a la NFL". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  6. ↑ "Luis Pérez le apunta a la NFL". Universo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  7. ↑ "Pérez le apunta a la NFL". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  8. ↑ "Luis Pérez le apunta a la NFL". Universo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  9. ↑ "Pérez le apunta a la NFL". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  10. ↑ Davis, For CSGNetwork.Com, Computer Support Group - Dr. Gene. "Quarterback Passer Rating Calculator". www.csgnetwork.com. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  11. ↑ "Former Southwestern QB Perez wins Harlon Hill Award as NCAA Div. II's top player for Texas A&M-Commerce - CCCAA". www.cccaasports.org. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  12. ↑ "Luis Perez - 2016". Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  13. ↑ "FightingFalcons.com" (PDF). Fighting Falcons.
  14. ↑ "Six Lions named to Don Hansen All-Super Region Four Team". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  15. ↑ "Second team All-American".
  16. ↑ Prosba, Zach. "2017 D2 Football Preseason All-America Team - HERO Sports". herosports.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  17. ↑ "All-LSC Football Awards released". Lone Star Conference. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  18. ↑ "Division II AP All-Americans: Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Perez leads first team". NCAA.com. 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  19. ↑ "Perez & Machorro lead 29 honorees on All-Lone Star Conference Teams - Texas A&M-Commerce". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  20. ↑ Prosba, Zach. "VOTE: Best Returning Quarterback in D2 Football - HERO Sports". herosports.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  21. ↑ Simmons, Myles (May 14, 2018). "Rams Sign Six College Free Agents, Waive Thompson". TheRams.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Rams Make Final Round of Cuts". TheRams.com. September 1, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Rams Set Initial Practice Squad". TheRams.com. September 2, 2018.
  24. ↑ Simmons, Myles (September 18, 2018). "Rams Waive QB Brandon Allen, Cut Two from Practice Squad". TheRams.com.

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