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