Kare Lyles
Quarterback / Southern Illinois
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Kare Lyles: Height is 6’0 and weight is 210. I haven’t run a forty recently. It should be a 4.8, but I am trying to get it to a 4.7.
Alex Khvatov: Your first name is unique. Is there a special meaning behind it?
Kare Lyles: My parents took the Biblical name of two kings. They used king Kareah as an example. They took the last two letters away and made it more unique.
Alex Khvatov: How were you preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Kare Lyles: I always work hard. I try to wear myself out with strenuous workouts. I speak with my coaches and always do the little things. I wanted to challenge myself with cardio this year. I have this beach workout routine. I am in the best shape of my life right now. This whole situation with Covid-19 will show who wants to separate themselves.
Alex Khvatov: When did you start playing QB?
Kare Lyles: When I was in Arizona, I picked up the position of QB. I have worked with QB coach Mike Giovando. He is a west coast QB guru. He has worked with Spencer Rattler, Bryce Perkins and Tyler Huntley. I have worked with Mike since my freshman year of high school. I work with him every offseason. At my high school, my outside starting receivers were Christian Kirk and Byron Murphy. We had goals to be in the NFL. The two of them are there right now. We won three straight championships in high school. I was the backup QB my sophomore year. We went undefeated my junior year and won championship. We moved up to another division my senior year. We went 12-2 and won a state championship again.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Kare Lyles: Going into my senior year, I had a lot of interest from schools. UCLA and Oklahoma were supposed to offer me in February. University of Washington, San Diego State and San Jose State also offered. I committed to Wisconsin before my senior year.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at Wisconsin?
Kare Lyles: I went on an unofficial visit to Wisconsin. They were highly interested in me. It was my first scholarship offer. Both of my parents went to Wisconsin. I immediately took the offer. I wanted to forget about recruiting and focus on my senior season.
Alex Khvatov: Your brother also committed to Wisconsin. Tell us about your brother.
Kare Lyles: My brother Kayden Lyles was one of the top OG in the country. He had already 40 offers when he was a sophomore in high school. He had Oklahoma. Ohio State was his favorite school. He took the time. He visited Ohio State and Wisconsin. He fell in love with Wisconsin. My parents went there. Joe Rudolph is the best O-line coach in the nation. He is the starting C this year. He was the starting OG last year. He has two more years left.
Alex Khvatov: Your dad also played in Wisconsin. How would you describe his career?
Kare Lyles: My mom got a PhD from Wisconsin. My parents lived in Arizona. The year after I graduated, they moved to Wisconsin again. My dad played TE for the Badgers. He started his last year. He was there from 92-97. He was part of the beginning when they changed the whole makeup in CFB. He played with Ron Dayne.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you eventually transfer to a JUCO in Arizona?
Kare Lyles: I truly wanted to be on the field. I worked my tail off every single day and strived to be a starter. Alex Hornibrook took the starting role at Wisconsin. He was the primary starter. I wanted to form my own path. I had the talent to be a starting QB. I went to Scottsdale for one year. In junior college, I silently committed to the University of Arkansas. I was stressed out after they pulled the offer.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Southern Illinois?
Kare Lyles: Junior college recruiting is very unique. I wasn’t talking to anyone else. I made the decision to go to Arkansas. They went with another QB. I put my head down and grinded. I went with the FCS offer. I am grateful to coach Hill and coach Rolan. I fell in love with the place. It is a pretty unique place. We have 13,000 people at Carbondale, Illinois. You feel a lot of history here. They have had NFL success with Brandon Jacobs and Jeremy Chinn. Jerry Kill was the athletic director. I had a great conversation with him when he pulled me aside. I wanted to come here and have a winning season. We haven’t had one in the last 10 years. I knew that I could be a difference maker. I accepted the challenge.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your junior campaign with Salukis?
Kare Lyles: They had inconsistent QB play in the past. I didn’t begin the season as the starting QB. It was a good rough patch to go through. I played against UT-Martin. The offensive group and the team started playing better when I came in. We won five straight games at the end of the season. I started 10 games and went 6-4. We lost the final game against NDSU.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from your team this upcoming season?
Kare Lyles: The team has more experience on the winning side of things. I love the coaches, and we have great players. You have to get used to winning again. Trust the process, and we will get over the hump. It has been a losing program the last 10 years. We have more positive energy after having success at the end of last season. We went 7-5, and it was the best record that we have had in the last decade. We have motivation to get to the playoffs. We are not going to be complacent. We will be better. We lost two key players, but we will surprise a lot of people.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Kare Lyles: A lot of stuff comes naturally. I am a gunslinger. I led the country in passing at a junior college. This past year, I was more of a game manager. My accuracy and being committed to playing every single rep. I am a hard worker. I love the process of this game. I love the offseason. I am one of the hardest workers on the team. The results will come this season.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Kare Lyles: Having an additional year with the program. We are in the MVFC. It is the best conference in the FCS. We have South Dakota State, UNI and NDSU. You have to be consistent every week. I have a good grasp of the offense. I have to improve my decision making. I threw eight INT’s last year. I need to improve on my 64% completion percentage. I am usually a 70% guy. Look at Joe Burrow and his stats his junior year and then he exploded his senior year. He trusted the process. I am doing the same thing. I am fully confident we will do special things this year.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Kare Lyles: The opportunity to go into my final year with full confidence. It is a highlight for me. Focusing on this year and turning this program around.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff at Southern Illinois?
Kare Lyles: Trust the process. You have to understand that you can’t control some things. Work hard and bust your tail.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Kare Lyles: I don’t have one. I love great QB play. I loved the Colts when I was young. Peyton Manning was leading the charge.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Kare Lyles: I like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady. I like Tua as well. We have the same body type.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Kare Lyles: Receivers Avante Cox, Landon Lenoir, D’Ante Cox and Branson Combs. On the O-line, we have Lucas Davis and Beau Branyan. On defense, Qua Brown is an exceptional safety. Aaron Maddox is a safety who transferred from Colorado. He is unreal. LB Bryce Notree, LB Bryson Strong, and LB Cody Crider who had three ACL tears. He is an unbelievable person, leader, and an exceptional football player.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Kare Lyles: The best player I saw was Malik Hooker from Ohio State. That guy was unreal. Coach told us to put an emphasis on this one guy. His quickness, speed and ball skills.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a QB?
Kare Lyles: Intangibles and willingness to work as hard as you can possibly work. You have to approach it like a professional.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Kare Lyles: Football is really consistent across the board. I like the preparation process. It is a job, and you try to execute plays at a high level. Execution is fun to watch. You need 11 guys on board to have high success. It is not only a physical game, but a mental one.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Kare Lyles: I like watching movies and being with my girlfriend. She is an amazing woman, and I love her to death. She is very into nature and wilderness. We go hiking on trails and go to lakes. I don’t do a lot. I like having great people around me.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Kare Lyles: After football, I want to be on TV. I want to become an ESPN analyst or host a show like Skip Bayless and Colin Cowherd. It is the greatest gig in the world.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
Kare Lyles: With everything that is going in the world right now, I come from a broad racial background. I am black, white, Palestinian, Greek and Native American. My racial identity has been confusing to people. Due to my racial background and my name, I like to communicate with different people and get to know them, no matter what their background is. I can communicate with anyone. I have had many heart to heart conversations with my teammates in the locker room.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Kare Lyles: Unique, perseverance, detailed, leader, and emphatic.
