IU football has earned a verbal commitment from Ohio-based defensive end Reinaldo Perez, he announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The 6-foot-6 and 260-pound Perez hails from Columbus, Ohio (Columbus Academy H.S.).
In the average of the national rankings, Perez is a 4-star, the No. 317 overall player in the class, and the No. 32 defensive lineman.
He made the All-Ohio first team in Division V last year.
Indiana now has a pair of 4-star edge rushers in the class, as Perez follows Myles Smith. The pair will arrive in Bloomington after Mikail Kamara led the nation in quarterback pressures in 2024, and Stephen Daley led the nation in tackles for loss in 2025.
“It felt so right, and they checked off all the boxes for my family and I,” Perez told Rivals’ Greg Smith. “I’m looking forward the most to getting on campus, be coached by the best coaches, and be a part of the best team.”
Perez picked IU over offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, Stanford, Florida, USC, Purdue, Kentucky, Louisville, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Rutgers, Cincinnati and others.
According to his Rivals page, Perez took nine visits to Ohio State and was scheduled to take an official visit there later this month. He took an official visit to IU in April, and visited Michigan State this past weekend.
Perez’s junior season highlights are below.
With the addition of Perez, Indiana now has 10 commits in the 2027 class, including three 4-stars:
(Star rating and below order according to the Rivals Industry Average)
- Myles Smith, Farmington, Mich., Edge (4-star)
- Mason McDermott, Noblesville, Ind., OT (4-star)
- Reinaldo Perez, Columbus, Ohio, Edge (4-star)
- Garyon Hobbs, Louisville, Ky., S/ATH (3-star)
- Jamison Purcell, Park Ridge, Ill., QB (3-star)
- Brady Scott, Marion, Mass, Safety (3-star)
- Branden Sharpe, Brownsburg, Ind., WR (3-star)
- Jordan Carrasquillo, Alpharetta, Ga., WR (3-star)
- Jeremiah Jones, Michigan City, Ind., OL (3-star)
- Rico Jackson, Upper Marlboro, Md., CB (3-star)
For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.
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