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.
香蕉视频直播淚t was an exhilarating feeling,香蕉视频直播� Lyles recalled, 香蕉视频直播渂ut also I was a bit upset not hearing my name called earlier than expected, you know what I mean, but that香蕉视频直播檚 just more fuel for the fire, right.
香蕉视频直播淏ut I香蕉视频直播檓 honestly just happy to get an opportunity, and getting the call from B.C. 香蕉视频直播� oh man, my whole family just lost it and it didn香蕉视频直播檛 even feel real at first, to be honest with you.香蕉视频直播�
First to call was , the Lions legend, who now works as the team香蕉视频直播檚 director of Canadian scouting and draft co-ordinator.
香蕉视频直播淕oing to kids camps when I was younger, Geroy was always there, talking 香蕉视频直播� those the Lions did, remember those?香蕉视频直播� Lyles said with a smile. 香蕉视频直播淚t was just an amazing thing, and I promised him and everyone else that I香蕉视频直播檇 come here to work every single day, and that I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 take it for granted香蕉视频直播� I just thanked (Lions management) for the opportunity and told them I香蕉视频直播檇 be one of the best draft picks they香蕉视频直播檇 get this year, that I香蕉视频直播檇 work hard, day in and day out.香蕉视频直播�
Lyles香蕉视频直播� path to a career in the CFL is still in a holding pattern, as the raw rookie hasn香蕉视频直播檛 yet played a regular-season game with the Lions. He didn香蕉视频直播檛 dress for the team香蕉视频直播檚 (June 15), and won香蕉视频直播檛 fly to Edmonton for Friday night香蕉视频直播檚 fight with the Eskimos, either.
Still watching, he香蕉视频直播檚 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 Lions香蕉视频直播� training facility in Surrey 香蕉视频直播� across the street from where he used to play baseball. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a crazy connection, too,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so close, it香蕉视频直播檚 almost like d茅j脿 vu being out here.香蕉视频直播�
On the football field, he香蕉视频直播檚 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 team香蕉视频直播檚 loss to Winnipeg at home Saturday night.
香蕉视频直播� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
The gridiron in Whalley isn香蕉视频直播檛 far from Fleetwood, where Lyles grew up and where his 香蕉视频直播渂rother,香蕉视频直播� close friend Jaylen Sandhu, was stabbed to death in December 2014, in the 16300-block of 88th Avenue.
Turns out, much of Lyles香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播� 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 doesn香蕉视频直播檛 think of Sandhu.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 still with me on the daily,香蕉视频直播� Lyles said. 香蕉视频直播淎t the end of the day, when I香蕉视频直播檓 down and out and having a hard day and thinking football might not work out, he香蕉视频直播檚 there, he香蕉视频直播檚 in the back of my head saying, 香蕉视频直播榊ou香蕉视频直播檙e not giving up, you香蕉视频直播檝e been wanting this since you were a little kid at North Surrey.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淎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.香蕉视频直播�
For a few years, in junior and during his time with the University of Manitoba Bisons, Lyles often wore one of Jaylen香蕉视频直播檚 shirts when he played, as a reminder of his dead buddy.
香蕉视频直播淚t was a Calvin Klein shirt he used to wear, his favourite, because he was always a big fashion guy,香蕉视频直播� Lyles explained. 香蕉视频直播淚 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 can香蕉视频直播檛 wear it no more. And even now I香蕉视频直播檓 trying to pay tribute to what he liked, his style, so I香蕉视频直播檓 slowing getting into that fashion interests,香蕉视频直播� he added with a laugh. 香蕉视频直播淓ven with my hair, my dreads now. That香蕉视频直播檚 where my power comes from, my strength.香蕉视频直播�
For Lyles, another source of inspiration is his mother, Sharon, who raised him on her own, pretty much.
香蕉视频直播淣one of this would be possible it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 for my mother, and saying I love her is an understatement, you know what I mean,香蕉视频直播� Lyles said. 香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 gone through so much, without telling me, just so I can play football.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淓ven when I was at university,香蕉视频直播� he added, 香蕉视频直播渟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 香蕉视频直播� she香蕉视频直播檚 someone I really admire, probably my greatest role model. She香蕉视频直播檚 always willing to put others before herself, so I ended up picking up that trait, and I just thank her for everything she香蕉视频直播檚 done for me.香蕉视频直播�
CFL Debut
香蕉视频直播� 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 Lyles香蕉视频直播� work ethic.
香蕉视频直播淗e was a tremendous high school football player,香蕉视频直播� the coach said, 香蕉视频直播渁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.香蕉视频直播�
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 team香蕉视频直播檚 Surrey hub, he香蕉视频直播檚 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
香蕉视频直播� j伪m褦l l褔l褦s (@Jamel_Lyles22)
馃抠:
On the field, though, it香蕉视频直播檚 all business for #26, who香蕉视频直播檇 favoured #22 until he got to the Lions and learned that jersey number was retired in honour of 香蕉视频直播�60s-era QB Joe Kapp.
香蕉视频直播淐oach Clay (DeVone Claybrooks) just tells me to keep working, that it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a long process, you know what I mean 香蕉视频直播� everybody goes through this, especially as a rookie,香蕉视频直播� Lyles said. 香蕉视频直播淚 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 I香蕉视频直播檓 just blessed to play for my hometown. It香蕉视频直播檚 a great opportunity and I just promise to keep working.香蕉视频直播�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on
