Former Merced High and Fresno State star David Perales is set to host a youth football camp at Merced High on Saturday.
The David Perales Summer Football Camp is scheduled for 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, July 13 and is open for kids ages 7 through 14.
Through the help of sponsors, Perales, 25, offers the camp for free. The deadline to register for the camp is Wednesday, July 10. Kids can register for the camp online .
“I really just want to try to help and put together a community event,” Perales said. “Hopefully we can inspire some kids out there.”
Perales, who graduated from Merced High in 2017, will compete for a spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers during training camp this summer. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound linebacker spent most of last year on the Steelers’ practice squad.
Perales has enlisted help from some of his friends in the NFL and Fresno State to help with his football camp.
Merced High coach Rob Scheidt said it’s nice to see his former player give back to the community.
“Obviously we’re really proud of David,” Scheidt said. “He holds a masters degree from Fresno State. He’s the first from his family to attend and graduate college. He’s trying to become successful in the NFL and that’s a huge challenge. Now he’s giving back to the community. That’s just who Davis is as a person.”
Some of the athletes helping Perales out on Saturday include Denver Broncos linebacker Levelle Bailey, Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Arron Mosby, Fresno State running back Elijah Gilliam, who graduated from El Capitan High, and his older brother Ulonzo Gilliam, who set the all-time rushing record at UC Davis and played with Perales at Merced High.
“This isn’t a super serious camp,” Perales said. “We’re just trying to help the kids learn a little and make it a good day for them in general. We want them to have fun.”
Perales says the plan is to set up drills for the kids, have them go through different stations and work with players at different positions. It’s a rare opportunity for these kids to get instruction from NFL and Division I players.
“I feel like I could use my platform to help inspire these kids with my story, or at least share my story a little bit,” Perales said. “Hopefully one of these kids will grow up and become the next person from the community. I want them to believe in themselves and then they can accomplish anything.”
Perales said his football journey started like many of the kids who will be at the football camp on Saturday. He started playing youth football at 10 years old. He then played at Merced High, then Merced College and earned a scholarship to Sacramento State.
He then transferred to Fresno State where he was an all-Mountain West Conference first-team selection his senior year after recording 47 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles-for-loss. His 22.5 career sacks rank sixth all-time in Fresno State history.
He then went undrafted and signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was cut from the practice squad three times last year, but resigned a couple weeks later each time.
Perales said just being around the team, especially the veteran Steelers was a dream come true last year. He was able to learn and feels he’s better prepared to make a run at a roster spot this year.
“Going out there and already going through that grind last year is a big advantage,” Perales said. “I know what is at stake. I feel I took big strides last year and I’m ready this year. Hopefully I can earn a special teams role and make my way up.”
Perales says 120 kids have already registered for the camp and there may be anywhere from 150 to 200 kids signed up by the end of Wednesday.
Perales hopes to make the camp an annual event.
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