When the B.C. Lions selected him in the eighth round (69th overall) in the 2019 CFL Draft in early May, was enjoying a meal at a Boston Pizza restaurant in Fleetwood, a neighbourhood in Surrey, where he felt both elation and disappointment.
For the Surrey-raised running back, getting picked by his hometown team was a real thrill.
B次元官网网址淚t was an exhilarating feeling,B次元官网网址� Lyles recalled, B次元官网网址渂ut also I was a bit upset not hearing my name called earlier than expected, you know what I mean, but thatB次元官网网址檚 just more fuel for the fire, right.
B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 honestly just happy to get an opportunity, and getting the call from B.C. B次元官网网址� oh man, my whole family just lost it and it didnB次元官网网址檛 even feel real at first, to be honest with you.B次元官网网址�
First to call was , the Lions legend, who now works as the teamB次元官网网址檚 director of Canadian scouting and draft co-ordinator.
B次元官网网址淕oing to kids camps when I was younger, Geroy was always there, talking B次元官网网址� those the Lions did, remember those?B次元官网网址� Lyles said with a smile. B次元官网网址淚t was just an amazing thing, and I promised him and everyone else that IB次元官网网址檇 come here to work every single day, and that I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 take it for grantedB次元官网网址� I just thanked (Lions management) for the opportunity and told them IB次元官网网址檇 be one of the best draft picks theyB次元官网网址檇 get this year, that IB次元官网网址檇 work hard, day in and day out.B次元官网网址�
LylesB次元官网网址� path to a career in the CFL is still in a holding pattern, as the raw rookie hasnB次元官网网址檛 yet played a regular-season game with the Lions. He didnB次元官网网址檛 dress for the teamB次元官网网址檚 (June 15), and wonB次元官网网址檛 fly to Edmonton for Friday nightB次元官网网址檚 fight with the Eskimos, either.
Still watching, heB次元官网网址檚 waiting for his chance to shine in the brightest spotlight pro football has to offer in Canada.
On Monday (June 17), Lyles practiced hard at the LionsB次元官网网址� training facility in Surrey B次元官网网址� across the street from where he used to play baseball. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a crazy connection, too,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so close, itB次元官网网址檚 almost like d茅j脿 vu being out here.B次元官网网址�
On the football field, heB次元官网网址檚 getting his reps in hopes of getting his first real start with the squad, after showing well in the pre-season.
Surrey-raised (#26 in orange, RB) getting reps at Lions practice Monday following the teamB次元官网网址檚 loss to Winnipeg at home Saturday night.
B次元官网网址� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
The gridiron in Whalley isnB次元官网网址檛 far from Fleetwood, where Lyles grew up and where his B次元官网网址渂rother,B次元官网网址� close friend Jaylen Sandhu, was stabbed to death in December 2014, in the 16300-block of 88th Avenue.
Turns out, much of LylesB次元官网网址� motivation to make it as a pro football player has much to do with the death of Sandhu, who was 17. His killer, equal his age at the time, was later sentenced to eight years in prison.
B次元官网网址� RELATED STORY: , from 2017.
With mothers as best friends and neighbours, Jamel and Jaylen played football together for close to a decade, on minor teams with the North Surrey association.
Today, Lyles said not a day goes by when he doesnB次元官网网址檛 think of Sandhu.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 still with me on the daily,B次元官网网址� Lyles said. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, when IB次元官网网址檓 down and out and having a hard day and thinking football might not work out, heB次元官网网址檚 there, heB次元官网网址檚 in the back of my head saying, B次元官网网址榊ouB次元官网网址檙e not giving up, youB次元官网网址檝e been wanting this since you were a little kid at North Surrey.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎nd now, look where I am today, and some of that is because of him, you know what I mean. And I had a close friend group that was always in my ear, too, telling me I had talent and that I was more than just an average player, so they were there too, along with Jaylen.B次元官网网址�
For a few years, in junior and during his time with the University of Manitoba Bisons, Lyles often wore one of JaylenB次元官网网址檚 shirts when he played, as a reminder of his dead buddy.
B次元官网网址淚t was a Calvin Klein shirt he used to wear, his favourite, because he was always a big fashion guy,B次元官网网址� Lyles explained. B次元官网网址淚 was really upset when this happened, because one time someone grabbed it and completely ripped it, shredded it, while I was playing. But I still have the shirt hanging in my room, I just canB次元官网网址檛 wear it no more. And even now IB次元官网网址檓 trying to pay tribute to what he liked, his style, so IB次元官网网址檓 slowing getting into that fashion interests,B次元官网网址� he added with a laugh. B次元官网网址淓ven with my hair, my dreads now. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where my power comes from, my strength.B次元官网网址�
For Lyles, another source of inspiration is his mother, Sharon, who raised him on her own, pretty much.
B次元官网网址淣one of this would be possible it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for my mother, and saying I love her is an understatement, you know what I mean,B次元官网网址� Lyles said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 gone through so much, without telling me, just so I can play football.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淓ven when I was at university,B次元官网网址� he added, B次元官网网址渟he always made sure I could have a little money to at least support myself, because going to school in Canada is pretty hard with the financial support system, but yeah B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 someone I really admire, probably my greatest role model. SheB次元官网网址檚 always willing to put others before herself, so I ended up picking up that trait, and I just thank her for everything sheB次元官网网址檚 done for me.B次元官网网址�
CFL Debut
B次元官网网址� j伪m褦l l褔l褦s (@Jamel_Lyles22)
6 carries 54 yards
S/o to my people in the 604 鉁婐煆�
June.7th @ BC Place 7 pm
Kurt Thornton, who coached Lyles at Tweedsmuir in Cloverdale, was at BC Place Saturday to take in the Lions game and show support for his former player, who appreciated the gesture.
Thornton raved about LylesB次元官网网址� work ethic.
B次元官网网址淗e was a tremendous high school football player,B次元官网网址� the coach said, B次元官网网址渁nd one of the best things about Jamel is that he loves the training part of football. He put in time in the weight room and he was busting his butt in there. He ended up having a dominant year in his Grade 12 year.B次元官网网址�
The six-foot Lyles, who will turn 23 on Aug. 12, , from North Surrey to Cloverdale to Manitoba to Victoria, back to Manitoba, now to Vancouver and, for practices, Whalley. In and around the teamB次元官网网址檚 Surrey hub, heB次元官网网址檚 become a bit of a tour guide for some of his teammates, many of whom also live nearby.
I am proud and unbelievably grateful to officially say I am apart of the Lions den. I want to thank the entire organization for the opportunity to play the game I love; you got yourself a savage. Now the real work starts 馃尮
B次元官网网址� j伪m褦l l褔l褦s (@Jamel_Lyles22)
馃抠:
On the field, though, itB次元官网网址檚 all business for #26, whoB次元官网网址檇 favoured #22 until he got to the Lions and learned that jersey number was retired in honour of B次元官网网址�60s-era QB Joe Kapp.
B次元官网网址淐oach Clay (DeVone Claybrooks) just tells me to keep working, that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a long process, you know what I mean B次元官网网址� everybody goes through this, especially as a rookie,B次元官网网址� Lyles said. B次元官网网址淚 just have to keep working on things I can control and get better day by day and not take a day off. The coaches, they really understand my situation and do see my potential, and IB次元官网网址檓 just blessed to play for my hometown. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity and I just promise to keep working.B次元官网网址�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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