Two friends from Merced High lean on one another while trying to make separate NFL teams
David Perales and Ulonzo Gilliam met in middle school while growing up in Merced and have been friends ever since.
They were teammates at Merced High School, leading the Bears to two Central California Conference championships in their three years of playing varsity.
After both finished off successful collegiate careers, the two friends now are getting an opportunity to play in the NFL.
Perales, a 6-foot-3, 253-pound defensive lineman, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a non-drafted free agent and Gilliam, a 5-8, 195-pound running back, was invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp this past weekend.
“I’ve known David ever since junior high and now we’re both on this journey,” Gilliam said. “I was just on the phone with him earlier today. We’re two guys from the same neighborhood who thrived at the college level and now we’re looking to play at the next level.”
Perales said he talked to Gilliam just about every day as they both experienced rookie minicamp. They shared what their experience was like and how they stacked up against their competition.
It’s great having a friend going through the same thing at the the same time, Perales said.
“It’s a dream come true for me and one of my best friends,” Perales said. “We were both on East Coast time so that helped. We talked almost every day. We both have an opportunity to play professional football in the NFL. That’s crazy to think about.”
Fresno State standout
Perales’ journey to the NFL took him to one year at Merced College, one year at Sacramento State and two and a half years at Fresno State.
Perales 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.
However, the NFL draft came and went without Perales hearing his name called.
“I was dealing with my injured ankle so I didn’t have the best pro day,” Perales said. “Once it got into the seventh round of the draft, I felt I was better than some players getting drafted. It was kind of irritating, but it doesn’t matter as long as I got an opportunity.”
Going undrafted allowed Perales the opportunity to pick his team.
“The Steelers were the perfect fit for me,” Perales said. “I think it’s their whole culture of working hard. It fits my style of football, hard-nosed. It was the best opportunity for me.”
UC Davis record-setter
Gilliam played his college ball at UC Davis, where he became the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,654 yards and all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 6,073 yards.
“I didn’t go into college to break records but last year they told me it was a possibility,” Gilliam said. “I was glad I was able to do it with the people I did it with. It was a good experience.”
Like Perales, Gilliam went undrafted. But he got invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp, where he was one of four running backs.
“Coming from a small town like Merced, I wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school,” Gilliam said. “It’s like college, I just need an opportunity. At the end of the day I know I have the same skill set as those other guys.”
“I feel I made the most of my opportunity,” Gilliam added. “Now I have to leave it up to them and God.”
Gilliam said the Dolphins told him he should hear back from them in about a week.
Perales remains in Pittsburgh with organized team activities (OTAs) scheduled to begin next week.
“Football is football, and I love football,” he said. “Just being out there working out has been a blessing. I just think about everything I had to overcome to get here. My whole journey has been an underdog story.”
Perales feels he made a good showing at the Steelers rookie minicamp this past weekend.
“I think I realized this weekend that I belong,” Perales said. “I still have a long way to go, but the days I’ve been here, I feel I’m on the right path.”
“I’m just going to take it day by day,” Perales added. “We’ll see what happens.”
This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 7:05 PM.
