Steelers taking extended preseason look at undrafted rookie OLB David Perales

Those who have watched the Pittsburgh Steelers throughout this preseason have seen one Steelers player more than any other.

Not the high-profile Kenny Pickett or T.J. Watt but a relatively unknown undrafted rookie in David Perales.

An outside linebacker, Perales has played 98 snaps through two preseason games — four more than first-round pick Broderick Jones’ second-on-the-team 94. If special teams are removed, only cornerback James Pierre has played more than Perales on defense (80).

“It’s a blessing to be out here chasing my dreams,” Perales said after a recent training-camp practice. “I think (the NFL level) is everything I really expected. I just come out here to work, everything is tough, my legs hurt.

“I am loving every minute of it.”

Perales has been getting an extended look in part because the Steelers are so intrigued by his pass-rushing skills. Only two players in FBS college football last season has more sacks than the 11 1/2 the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Perales had for Fresno State.

Perales had 22 1/2 sacks over 33 FBS games for the Bulldogs (he played his first two college seasons at FCS Sacramento State and Merced Junior College).

“Ever since I started my football career, pass rushing is something that I really enjoyed,” Perales said, “and I’ve just picking my coaches’ brains throughout my whole career and being relentless in trying to get to the quarterback.

“I think it’s the best thing you can do — get to the quarterback. It’s the best feeling.”

Lucky for Perales, then, that he joins a team with T.J. Watt, who owns a share of the NFL record for sacks in a season. The Steelers also have a player at Perales’ position who finished sixth in the NFL in sacks last season (Alex Highsmith). And the position room boasts a rookie who finished tied for sixth in sacks in FBS (second among Power Five conference players) last season in fourth-round pick Nick Herbig.

Perales said he’s idolized Watt in the past, and Highsmith “had been one of my favorite pass rushers for a couple years now.” He’d also studied Herbig’s game film in preparation for the draft.

“I have a whole lot to learn,” Perales said, “but I am glad I am in the room with guys like this. Especially T.J., who’s just on a different level. To be able to pick his brain as much as I can? Unreal.”

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