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There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Alliance of American Football.
Many Bengals fans have shown interest in the San Antonio Commanders who have 2018 seventh-round pick Logan Woodside starting at quarterback. Woodside did look he could be one of the AAF’s top passers after Week 1, but the consensus top quarterback, Luis Perez, also has a link to the Bengals.
The Division II, Texas A&M Commerce product, Perez went undrafted in 2018, but eventually signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Zac Taylor was his position coach throughout training camp, but Perez did not make the final cut. The Rams brought him back, briefly, as a member of their practice squad, but by the end of September, he had no NFL ties.
Perez was an impressive college player. After starting his collegiate career at California junior college, he transferred to Texas A&M Commerce and became a two-year starter. In his first season starting, he led the Lions to their first playoff win in over 25 years and in his second season as starter he led them to the school’s first ever National Championship.
Perez completed 19 of 33 passes for 252 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Birmingham Iron’s 26-0 debut win over the Memphis Express.
It will be interesting to see if Taylor’s connection to Perez leads the Bengals to bring him in following the AAF season. While it is difficult to project players from that league, it is important to remember that NFL stars have been born in other leagues before. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner played for both the Arena Football League’s Iowa Barnstormers and NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals before breaking out in the NFL with the Saint Louis Rams.
Perez is definitely a player to keep an eye on as the season continues. With his connection to Taylor, it would not be surprising to see the two reunite in Cincinnati where the Bengals are certainly in the market for a young quarterback.