Posted: Mar 10, 2025

Luis Perez elected to the CCCFCA Hall of Fame

Former standout Southwestern QB Luis Perez was elected to the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, the CCCFCA announced Saturday during the 36th Hall of Fame Luncheon at the Elks Lodge in Visalia, Calif.

Luis Perez - the third member with Southwestern College ties ever inducted (Ed Carberry 2025, John Fox 2005), was unavailable to attend Saturday's Hall of Fame ceremony because of pre-season practice with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League.

Luis Perez's story is a testament to the power of self-belief, self-definition, and work ethic. The Chula Vista native and Otay Ranch Alumnus graduated high school in 2012, where he was a junior varsity basketball player and wide receiver on a wing-T offense. In fact, he was one heck of a bowler, having bowled 12 perfect games and considered attending the University of Oklahoma on a bowling scholarship, one of ten scholarship offers Perez received to bowl.

In 2013, Luis enrolled at Southwestern College and as a walk-on who had never played the quarterback position found himself at the very bottom of the QB depth chart. Perez had a lot of natural ability and began training with a quarterback coach to refine the physical traits he possessed. Throughout that summer several players switched positions, and Perez eventually won the backup role and soon after started three games. In his first game under center, Perez threw for 251 yards and blew everyone's mind with his red dot accuracy and poise in the pocket. The following year, Perez showed out and completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 1,846 yards, 18 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. Perez had gone from an unknown walk-on to one of the top community college players in the state. He led the Jaguars to a 10-1 record, earning him Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

After earning a football scholarship to Division II Texas A&M–Commerce in 2015, Perez would have quite the run in the Lone Star State. In 28 games for Texas A&M-Commerce, Perez set program records in completions (665), passing yards (8,327) and passing touchdowns (78). As the most decorated quarterback in school history, he was the winner of the 2017 Harlon Hill Division II National Player of the Year and a first-team All-America selection after leading the team to an NCAA Division II National Championship.

Perez is one of the stars of spring football and has made his mark professionally with the United Football League's Arlington Renegades. He led the UFL in completions (225), passing yards (2,309) and passing touchdowns (18). And the year prior, as a starter in the XFL, Perez would lead the Renegades to a championship win. Perez has also played on other professional teams throughout his career — Birmingham Iron (AAF), Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL), New York Guardians (XFL), New Jersey Generals (USFL), and Vegas Vipers (XFL).

Luis Perez has been on NFL rosters, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Rams in 2018 and 2022 and spent part of that season on their practice squad. He was also on the rosters of the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and most recently Los Angeles Chargers.