DβArco Perkins-McAllister is getting his NFL chance with the Kansas City Chiefs after a college career that moved through several programs before ending with a strong final season at Louisiana-Monroe.
The former ULM defensive back is joining Kansas City as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft.
The move gives the Chiefs another young defensive back to evaluate through rookie work, camp reps and preseason competition.
Perkins-McAllister enters the league after a winding college path that started at TCU and later included New Mexico, Chattanooga and ULM.
His final college season gave him the strongest rΓ©sumΓ© of his career. Perkins-McAllister started all 10 games he appeared in for ULM in 2025 and finished with 33 tackles, four tackles for loss, four sacks, seven pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and a blocked kick.
That type of production made him more than just a depth name after the draft.
For Kansas City, the signing adds a defensive back with experience, length and a background of playing in different systems. For Perkins-McAllister, it is a chance to prove that the long road was worth it.
Read More: Browns Give Jackson State Speedster JaβNaylon Dupree NFL Shot After HBCU RisePerkins-McAllister Took the Long College Route Before ULM Breakout
Perkins-McAllister did not arrive at this point through a simple four-year college path.
He was a four-star recruit out of Stratford Comprehensive High School in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was rated among the top safety prospects in the country.
He began his college career at TCU, playing in 10 games as a freshman in 2021 and 10 more as a sophomore in 2022.
After TCU, his career moved again. He spent the 2023 season at New Mexico without seeing game action, then played at Chattanooga in 2024.
That season helped him rebuild momentum, as he posted 22 tackles, two tackles for loss and four interceptions in six games.
The final move to ULM became the one that put him back on the NFL radar.
Perkins-McAllister made an immediate impact for the Warhawks. In the 2025 opener against Saint Francis, he led the defense with eight total tackles and two sacks.
ULM shut out Saint Francis 29-0, and Perkins-McAllister earned the first Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season after that performance.
After the win, he summed up the defensive effort with a short line that fit the night.
βThe defense had eight months to prepare,β Perkins-McAllister said. βTonight was a night, itβs as simple as that.β
That opener was not the only strong moment of his season. He had four pass breakups at UTEP, added a sack and blocked field goal against Arkansas State, and later picked up another sack at Southern Miss.
His production showed up in several ways, which matters for a player trying to earn an NFL role from outside the draft.
Chiefs Give Another Young Defensive Back a Camp Opportunity
The Chiefs have built their defense around competition, depth and development, especially in the secondary.
Perkins-McAllister now joins that environment with a chance to earn attention the same way many undrafted players must earn it, one practice and one rep at a time.
His college profile gives Kansas City a few reasons to take the look. He has safety experience from his early career, cornerback experience from ULM, and enough production as a blitzer and cover player to make him interesting.
Seven pass breakups and four sacks in one season is not a common combination for a defensive back.
His special teams value could also matter. The blocked kick against Arkansas State is a small detail, but those details can help an undrafted defensive back stay in the conversation during camp.
Roster spots are hard to win, and players in his position usually need to show they can help beyond one defensive role.
Perkins-McAllister also brings a personal background that adds to the story. He was born in Nashville, is the son of Cornelius Perkins and Kristina McAllister, and has 14 siblings.
His ULM profile lists him as a business major, which gives another glimpse of the life behind the football journey.
The challenge now gets tougher. NFL receivers are faster, route details are sharper, and mistakes show up quickly.
Perkins-McAllister will have to prove he can handle coverage assignments, tackle consistently, understand the Chiefsβ defensive calls and contribute on special teams.
Still, his road already shows persistence. He went from a highly rated high school recruit to TCU, through multiple transfers, then finished with the best season of his college career at ULM.
That is the kind of path that can prepare a player for the uncertainty that comes with being undrafted.
Kansas City has opened the door. DβArco Perkins-McAllister now gets the chance to turn a long college journey into a real NFL opportunity.
Read More: Daniel Sobkowicz Takes Record Breaking Illinois State Career to Texans After FCS Title Run