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