Dylan Rachel is out but not down

Windsor Dukes and Notre Dame Jugglers slot back Dylan Rachel may be temporarily sidelined from the field, but he is not letting that slow him down.

Dylan Rachel

Positions:
Slot Back, Tight End, Wide Out

Height/Weight:
6’2’’, 185 lb.

Teams:
Windsor Secondary School Dukes (BCHSFA)

Notre Dame Regional Secondary School Jugglers (BCHSFA)

Team BC U16

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
None

Considerations:
British Columbia, John Hopkins, McGill

Class:
2018

Dylan Rachel has been playing football since grade 8, starting with the Windsor Secondary School Dukes of the British Columbia High School Football Association. This year, however, an obstacle appeared following Dylan’s transfer to Notre Dame Regional Secondary School.

“I played for the Windsor Dukes high school team through grade 8-9 then transferred to Notre Dame this year and played 3 games until being told I was ineligible to play,” Dylan says.

The 6’2’’, 185 pound North Vancouver native plays slot back and tight end, with the occasional appearance as wide out. In his time on the field, Dylan’s most memorable football experience was playing at a FBU camp in Arizona and being selected to attend the “Top Gun” National Camp. It was those winning experiences that put an end to any lingering Canadian lack of confidence that this young athlete was experiencing.

“I had the idea in my head that American players were above and beyond Canadian players,” Dylan says, “This experience made me realize that players from Canada can compete internationally with success.”

The experience also helped cement Dylan’s drive for football success, something he remains committed to despite his sidelining.

“I always try and push myself extremely hard in off-season training,” Dylan says.

“I know that there are plenty of other people out there training and if I want to be successful I have to out work them,” Dylan says, “Right now, I am trying to gain fifteen pounds and reach 200 pounds while getting my 40 around a 4.7.”

While he is pushing himself to reach those goals, Dylan’s biggest competitors are “definitely” his teammates.

“It is all fun,” Dylan assures us, “But I know if I do something bad or worse than someone else on the team I’m going to hear about it and it gets me angry.”

Dylan stresses this is “Not in a bad way. [Rather it is] in a way where it motivates you to try harder and push the other guys on your team to try harder.”

Dylan is an honours student, is proud of both his academic and athletic achievements, and is eager to continue his pursuit of perfection in both aspects.

“I have all As and two Bs in drama and religion class. My grade average is around 88-89%,” Dylan says, “I am also very competitive in track and field winning silver at provincials for high jump and bronze in long jump last year.”

Dylan’s graduation year is 2018, so he still has time to get back on the gridiron, but his main focus right now is not football, but his education.

“I plan on going to university in 2018 [and] not taking a gap year,” Dylan says, “I want to go into medicine so I will be in school for a long time. I plan on finishing school as soon as possible so I can begin working.

While he is at pains to make clear that he has not received any offers, Dylan has clear ambitions about which universities he would like to attend, the main contenders being the University of British Columbia, McGill, and John Hopkins University.

“I would love to attend these schools because of their great reputation with academics,” Dylan says, “I would be open to considering other universities too but these are the ones I have on my mind at this moment.”

While academics and a dreamed-of career in medicine are Dylan’s primary focus, his love for football is strong. Also strong is his appreciation for those mentors and family members that helped him get where he is.

“I had great peewee football coaches in Ian Sinclair and Richard White, former CFL players who helped me learn football when I was still new to the game,” Dylan says.

However, the most influential person in my life and in football is most Dylan’s mom, who has been there for him

“I come from a single parent only child house and my mom works hard everyday to make sure that I have a good life and I have opportunities in life and in football, Dylan says, “She has taught me what hard work can do for you after watching her work her way up from the bottom and becoming a successful businesswoman.”

It is a similar desire to take what he has and use it to be the best is at the core of Dylan’s life in school and on the field.

“I try to be [a perfectionist],” Dylan says, “I want everything I do in life to be perfect and I work hard to make sure it’s as close as it can be.”