COLLEGE STATION -- Before Johnny Manziel decided to make a surprise appearance at Texas A&M's Pro Day on Tuesday, the Aggies were set to have another notable quarterback throw passes.

But former Texas A&M-Commerce standout Luis Perez didn't mind splitting the spotlight. The opportunity gave the top Division II player in the country a stage to show NFL scouts he has the ability to play at the next level.

"I was excited," Perez said of throwing next to Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner. "Just being next to Johnny, being able to throw and being able to showcase that I can throw the football better than anybody in this draft. I feel like I came out here and I did that."

Last season, the California native, who started playing quarterback in junior college, posted prolific numbers on his way to helping A&M-Commerce win the Division II national championship.

He completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 4,999 yards, 46 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games. The 6-3 quarterback won the 2017 Harlon Hill Award, which goes to the nation's top player in Division II.

Perez said his agent, Joe Linta, reached out to the A&M system's flagship university to see if the quarterback for the system's school

Commerce could throw in College Station. On Tuesday, Perez was throwing to the likes of A&M receivers Christian Kirk and Damion Ratley.

The former Lions quarterback said scouts had a different perception of him after seeing him throw in person. He'll have another chance to make a good impression at A&M-Commerce's Pro Day on March 31, where he'll also have a little more control over the passing script.

Right now, Perez said he's heard projections that have him going off the board in the late rounds of the NFL draft or signing as an undrafted free agent.

Either way, Perez relished the opportunity to show he can be a viable quarterback in the NFL.

"I wasn't here for all the hype and show," Perez said. "I was here to just prove to scouts and teams I can throw the football well, and I feel like I did that."