Criminals football star Juaquin Perez signs to play for Ripon College
Another Yuma football player is heading to Wisconsin, as Perez joins teammate Andrew Mosqueda on the Red Hawks roster
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma football has a history of sending players to Ripon College in Wisconsin.
On Monday, the tradition continued as Juaquin Perez signed his letter of intent to play for the Red Hawks in the fall.
“I think it’s the best one for me, I’m going to be studying medicine and health over there, I’m going to be playing football, I’m not going to lie it’s the only thing I could ask for,” Perez said.
Perez will join Criminals teammate Andrew Mosqueda after he signed to play for Ripon in February.
The Mosqueda family, who has sent all four sons to Ripon, including Yuma head coach Armando Mosqueda, had a major influence on Perez's choice to attend.
"Andy and his mom actually helped me out a lot for making my decisions," Perez said.
The signing comes after a solid career on the gridiron for Perez, who spent time at linebacker, tight end, and running back, which was his primary position in his senior season.
Perez ran for 531 yards, averaging just over 5.3 yards a carry.
He says time with the Criminals was one which helped him grow on and off the field.
"The training, practicing in general or just teaching, (Armando) just being almost like a second dad to me and everything, he actually taught me a lot," Perez said.
When looking back on his Crims career, one game in particular stood out to him as his favorite memory with the team.
It was an offensive shootout with Dysart which the Criminals lost 49-42, but Perez had a season-high 27 carries for 105 yards.
"That was pretty fun, I got tired a little bit but I kept on going, kept on pushing hard," Perez said.
While he'll be studying medicine and health, Perez's hope is to eventually become a firefighter, should a pro football career not work out.
"I actually love really helping people, and I think that’s actually a really good,(fit) for me," Perez said.
