Interview: 3-Star 2020 California OLB/DE Malachi Lyles is Having Another Standout Season
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
There are all sorts of different ways for a high school football player to show their athleticism on the field. They can show it off with a combination of speed, power, quickness, footwork and hand-eye coordination – you name it. All of that is wrapped up into Class of 2020 outside linebacker/end Malachi Lyles, and the 6-2, 225-pound, athlete can do flips on the field – literal flips, and in full gear!
After his junior season, college football teams started taking serious notice of Lyles and his abilities on the gridiron. From his edge position, he put an end to 32 plays with six tackles for a loss, and three sacks and ran the rock twice for 45 in 2018. Division V California teams are once again running away from the Mayfair High School standout, but that has not stopped Lyles from making plays. Coming off the edge, his speed rush is too much for most left tackles to handle forcing quick passes and tosses going the other way. That ability to collapse the pocket and make errant passes while tracking down running backs going the other way has attracted a collegiate crowd with six offers placed in front of him.
In an RNG exclusive interview, I sat down with the three-star recruit covering his growth on the field during his senior season along with his recruiting prospects.
Interview
Malachi, snap of the ball you are like a cannon shooting off going after the quarterback. What is your mentality when you take the field for any given game?
“My mentality, I want to have fun with the game of football, but I also want the other guy to quit. I want to make him stop blocking me and I want to get them to get out of my way. I am there to do my job and my job only.”
What base defense are you guys running this season and how are you working within the scheme?
“We are switching between 4-3 and 3-4. We also run a 4-2 with the outside linebackers and safeties walking down. I am at end in our scheme. I am our edge rusher, getting off the ball and doing my thing. I am good at that. I am good at blowing up pulling guards and keeping containment.”
To that point, your strength shows going against tackles shedding blocks and working to the ball. Did you max out over the offseason, if so, what did you put up?
“On bench I put up 300, 300 on power clean, and my squat was 485.”
Nice. Which areas of your game did you work on in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?
“I worked on my working my hands, staying low, and a lot of basic technique stuff. I worked on the simple things with my technique. I worked on my basics.”
How are you seeing that hard work translate onto the field in 2019?
“The hard work is translating seeing myself get off the ball faster, reading linemen easier, and understanding the game better. I am making the game slow down so I can make plays. I can better understand how plays are developing. I am reading my faster and better keys so I can do what I need to do to make a play.”
Of all the games played this season, which has been your best game?
“I would have to say our game against Gahr was my best. Their offense had a lot of roll out plays with the quarterback; I had a lot of sacks. They ran a lot of tosses too, so it was easy to get past one guy to get to the ball. It was easy to read and to make plays against Gahr. That was our homecoming game too; it was a lot of fun. We were all on the same page doing our jobs.”
Is there an aspect to your game that we have not talked about that may get overlooked?
“I am an athlete. If my coaches put me at a position, I will go out there and do it. If we were to install something new the day before the game, I am fast enough to pick it up and do it in a game.”
Going into recruiting, which schools are showing recruiting interest?
“UCLA and San Jose State are showing interest.”
How many offers do you have now?
“I have six offers.”
Lyles’ Offer Sheet: Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV, and Utah State
Being a senior, do you have any official or unofficial visits coming up?
“There are none scheduled yet, but I want to go to Colorado State, Utah State, and New Mexico on official visits. I want to go on a tour of UNLV as well.”
Going through this process, what is the ideal fit for you with a school/program?
“The ideal fit is one that feels the most genuine. I want a place where players are like family. I don’t want to be treated just like a player, but like a family member. I want a school that makes me feel the genuine love. With academics, I prefer a school with good majors in business. I am looking to major in business.”
What is your cumulative GPA?
“2.8.”
And your score on the ACT and/or SAT?
“My SAT score was a 1020.”
Last couple of questions. The Monsoons are on a two-game winning streak taking down La Mirada and Norwalk. What do you guys have to do on Friday against Bellflower to make it three in a row?
“We have to execute and keep the same mentality. We have to do what we have been doing. We have to keep our identity as a team, that has been a struggle at times.”
Looking at the playoffs, what is the scenario for the Monsoons?
“If we win, we get a better seed. If we lose, there is a chance we will tie for the league championship, but we will still go to the playoffs; I believe.”
Malachi, it was great getting time in with you today. Wishing you and the team success the rest of the way.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: twitter.com; No. 25 Malachi Lyles