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.
91裸聊视频淚t was an exhilarating feeling,91裸聊视频� Lyles recalled, 91裸聊视频渂ut also I was a bit upset not hearing my name called earlier than expected, you know what I mean, but that91裸聊视频檚 just more fuel for the fire, right.
91裸聊视频淏ut I91裸聊视频檓 honestly just happy to get an opportunity, and getting the call from B.C. 91裸聊视频� oh man, my whole family just lost it and it didn91裸聊视频檛 even feel real at first, to be honest with you.91裸聊视频�
First to call was , the Lions legend, who now works as the team91裸聊视频檚 director of Canadian scouting and draft co-ordinator.
91裸聊视频淕oing to kids camps when I was younger, Geroy was always there, talking 91裸聊视频� those the Lions did, remember those?91裸聊视频� Lyles said with a smile. 91裸聊视频淚t was just an amazing thing, and I promised him and everyone else that I91裸聊视频檇 come here to work every single day, and that I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 take it for granted91裸聊视频� I just thanked (Lions management) for the opportunity and told them I91裸聊视频檇 be one of the best draft picks they91裸聊视频檇 get this year, that I91裸聊视频檇 work hard, day in and day out.91裸聊视频�
Lyles91裸聊视频� path to a career in the CFL is still in a holding pattern, as the raw rookie hasn91裸聊视频檛 yet played a regular-season game with the Lions. He didn91裸聊视频檛 dress for the team91裸聊视频檚 (June 15), and won91裸聊视频檛 fly to Edmonton for Friday night91裸聊视频檚 fight with the Eskimos, either.
Still watching, he91裸聊视频檚 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 Lions91裸聊视频� training facility in Surrey 91裸聊视频� across the street from where he used to play baseball. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a crazy connection, too,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 so close, it91裸聊视频檚 almost like d茅j脿 vu being out here.91裸聊视频�
On the football field, he91裸聊视频檚 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 team91裸聊视频檚 loss to Winnipeg at home Saturday night.
91裸聊视频� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
The gridiron in Whalley isn91裸聊视频檛 far from Fleetwood, where Lyles grew up and where his 91裸聊视频渂rother,91裸聊视频� close friend Jaylen Sandhu, was stabbed to death in December 2014, in the 16300-block of 88th Avenue.
Turns out, much of Lyles91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频� 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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 think of Sandhu.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 still with me on the daily,91裸聊视频� Lyles said. 91裸聊视频淎t the end of the day, when I91裸聊视频檓 down and out and having a hard day and thinking football might not work out, he91裸聊视频檚 there, he91裸聊视频檚 in the back of my head saying, 91裸聊视频榊ou91裸聊视频檙e not giving up, you91裸聊视频檝e been wanting this since you were a little kid at North Surrey.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淎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.91裸聊视频�
For a few years, in junior and during his time with the University of Manitoba Bisons, Lyles often wore one of Jaylen91裸聊视频檚 shirts when he played, as a reminder of his dead buddy.
91裸聊视频淚t was a Calvin Klein shirt he used to wear, his favourite, because he was always a big fashion guy,91裸聊视频� Lyles explained. 91裸聊视频淚 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 can91裸聊视频檛 wear it no more. And even now I91裸聊视频檓 trying to pay tribute to what he liked, his style, so I91裸聊视频檓 slowing getting into that fashion interests,91裸聊视频� he added with a laugh. 91裸聊视频淓ven with my hair, my dreads now. That91裸聊视频檚 where my power comes from, my strength.91裸聊视频�
For Lyles, another source of inspiration is his mother, Sharon, who raised him on her own, pretty much.
91裸聊视频淣one of this would be possible it wasn91裸聊视频檛 for my mother, and saying I love her is an understatement, you know what I mean,91裸聊视频� Lyles said. 91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 gone through so much, without telling me, just so I can play football.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淓ven when I was at university,91裸聊视频� he added, 91裸聊视频渟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 91裸聊视频� she91裸聊视频檚 someone I really admire, probably my greatest role model. She91裸聊视频檚 always willing to put others before herself, so I ended up picking up that trait, and I just thank her for everything she91裸聊视频檚 done for me.91裸聊视频�
CFL Debut
91裸聊视频� 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 Lyles91裸聊视频� work ethic.
91裸聊视频淗e was a tremendous high school football player,91裸聊视频� the coach said, 91裸聊视频渁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.91裸聊视频�
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 team91裸聊视频檚 Surrey hub, he91裸聊视频檚 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
91裸聊视频� j伪m褦l l褔l褦s (@Jamel_Lyles22)
馃抠:
On the field, though, it91裸聊视频檚 all business for #26, who91裸聊视频檇 favoured #22 until he got to the Lions and learned that jersey number was retired in honour of 91裸聊视频�60s-era QB Joe Kapp.
91裸聊视频淐oach Clay (DeVone Claybrooks) just tells me to keep working, that it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a long process, you know what I mean 91裸聊视频� everybody goes through this, especially as a rookie,91裸聊视频� Lyles said. 91裸聊视频淚 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 I91裸聊视频檓 just blessed to play for my hometown. It91裸聊视频檚 a great opportunity and I just promise to keep working.91裸聊视频�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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