There are three things that have become common in life: death, taxes, and Dallas Renegades quarterback Luis Perez playing at a high level in spring football.
UFL fans have seen Perez establish himself as one of the best quarterbacks in modern spring football history since starting for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football. The tides seem to turn for him once the Renegades traded with the Vegas Vipers for Perez back in the 2023 XFL season, as he led the Renegades to a league title and was called the "Spring King," a nickname he has embraced to the point of him writing a book about himself using it as the title.
Entering the 2026 UFL season, things are very different for Perez as he has a head coach other than Bob Stoops for the first time since 2023, with Rick Neuheisel taking over for the Renegades, and about two-thirds of the roster being from different teams. One thing is for certain, though: Perez is still playing at a high level and still has the drive to be the best, as he took time to speak with reporters after the Renegades' practice on Wednesday in their first week of training camp.
How does Luis Perez feel about the new coaching staff?
Outside of Neuheisel, there are multiple changes to the coaching staff, including the addition of new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone. Perez has enjoyed being around so many coaches with offensive minds like his, as he told UFL NewsHub what the transition has been like with the new staff.
"I'm so ecstatic that I'm here with these guys. These are some great football minds. A lot of quarterback guys, right? Coach Neuheisel is a quarterback guy, Noel, quarterback guy. So I've been very, very fortunate to be hooked up with these guys. So I just want to continue to grow as a player, right? Have some humility and keep learning from these guys. These guys have a lot of experience and have been very successful for a long time. So just trying to be a sponge around them. They could pick my brain, I'd pick their brain, and just collaborate together. It's been real great."
Perez is no stranger to different coaches, as he had a run from 2019 to 2023 working with seven different coaching staffs in the AAF, XFL, The Spring League, and USFL. Since midway through the 2023 season, he had Stoops as the head coach and Chuck Long as his offensive coordinator.
Stoops was always known as a defensive coach with his background in that. Perez told UFL NewsHub the big differences between Neuheisel and Stoops as head coaches.
"Neuheisel is a quarterback guy, right? So Stoops was a defensive guy. So he's an offensive coach. I haven't had an offensive coach in a while, but it's been really good. Like I said, I'm always trying to listen. Anytime he gives anybody any tips, I want to be close, I'm going to listen. He's been already giving me some great pointers that I hadn't heard in my career. So I just want to continue to grow, be around those guys, and be a sponge."
Luis Perez on the new weapons on offense
The Renegades lost some key offensive weapons from last season, including Isaiah Winstead and Sal Cannella, who went on to sign with the NFL. Luckily for Perez, he still has some key pass catchers on the roster, including Deontay Burnett, Tyler Vaughns, and Seth Green.
With some of the familiar faces, there are plenty of new players who have joined the team. The Renegades added Greg Ward, Silas Bolden, Drake Stoops, Denzel Mims, and Emmanuel Butler last month. Perez shared some of the advantages he has had from already working with the old and new receivers on the roster before training camp.
"Luckily, I got the opportunity to throw with these guys before the season. Once we found out that we got signed, we got together and stuff. So that's been really good. But yeah, Silas, he could roll, man. He's a freaking stellar returner, slot. Stoops, savvy, smart, been in NFL systems before. Great guy as well. Mims is Mims, right? Everybody knows, second-round pick, fast, big body, big target, smart guy, too. So very fortunate. Obviously, having the Trojan boys back, that's been awesome. So, yeah, no, I'm very fortunate to have these guys. We have Emmanuel, too. Eb, awesome. G-ward. I've been going against G-ward since 2019. We were teammates in Philly in 2019 as well. So it's been great to have him back. Ex-quarterback guy, really smart guy, understands the game really well. So very I'm fortunate to have those guys on my side."
Dallas' new offensive line doesn't bother Luis Perez
Going into training camp, Marcus Minor and Alex Akingbulu are the only returning offensive linemen from last year's Renegades team. They added key talent such as Abdul Beecham, Keaton Sutherland, Mike Novitsky, Chim Okorafor, and more.
With a new line comes new communication, as the unit tries to communicate with each other and their quarterback. Perez told UFL NewsHub that he isn't worried about the line as he has been pleased with how they have been working together.
"They've been great. Obviously, we had them last year. And then we have a lot of guys with a lot of NFL experience. A lot of guys, Keaton, we have Tremaine, we have Raiqwon. We have a lot of guys that are just great, that have NFL experience, that are very smart. And you can tell they've all been in NFL system. So we talk the same lingo. And Coach does a great job of just doing whatever the players kinda are used to, but can also adapt with his system. So it's been a great collaboration between coaches and players to be able to get an offense going in the next four weeks. So we're excited to mesh everything together and put it to show March 28th."
Renegades' running backs bring a different dynamic that Luis Perez appreciates
Dae Dae Hunter is the only returning running back on the roster after spending the last two years with the Renegades. While just a backup in 2024, Hunter took a starting role in 2025 with Kalen Ballage's early-season injury, but ended up finishing fourth in the UFL in rushing with 406 yards. Hunter will be joined by newcomers Lorenzo Lingard, Ellis Merriweather, and Keegan Jones.
One thing Perez has noticed with this group of backs in 2026 is the versatility they bring to the offense.
"I'm very impressed with those guys. They understand the game very, very well. They're all explosive. They all have some size to them, and they can run the ball really well. They have good vision is what I've seen. They can all catch the ball, too, which that's the most important thing for me. They can catch the ball in the backfield. Pass protection as well, too. That's another important thing. They all understand that as well. Then Dae Dae, obviously, I've been with him the last couple of years. That's my guy. Great energy. That guy, as soon as you get close to him, he walks into any room, you just light up because he's full of energy. So fortunate to have those guys as well."
No Sal Cannella, no problem for Luis Perez
Even with Cannella now enjoying life in the NFL, the Renegades are still loaded at the tight end position. Seth Green is back as he looks to take a starting role for the first time in his UFL career. Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Peyton Hendershot joins the UFL in his first season, and the Renegades also have Curtis Hodges for his second year with the team.
Perez didn't express any concern about Cannella no longer being on the team, as he had nothing but praise for the tight end room, including Green.
"Seth's a stud, man. Seth is the man. He lives out here, so we've been training all offseason together. We're locked in. We're ready. We're excited. Curtis, another guy we got back. We have Peyton Hendershot, too, as well. He was with the Cowboys and the Chiefs. We have a great tight end room."
This Renegades team might look a bit different from the 2025 season, but Perez is still there and gives them a chance to win every game.