The Connection

Tyler West spent two seasons as the Langley varsity football team’s starting running back and finished his career as the program’s all-time leading rusher.

After limited duty as a sophomore, West thrived in a starting role as a junior, rushing for 2,230 yards. He again surpassed the 2,000­yard mark as a senior, totaling 2,081. He finished his high school career with 4,373 yards and more than 50 touchdowns.

As a member of the Saxons, West twice earned first-team All-Conference 6, first-team All-6A North Region and second-team All-State honors. As a senior in 2014, West was named Conference 6 Offensive Player of the Year.

West, a 2015 Langley High School graduate, will continue his football career at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. The Leopards compete at the Division I level in the Patriot Conference.

West recently participated in a Q&A via email with The Connection.

Connection: You’ll be playing football at Lafayette College in the fall. What made Lafayette the right choice for you?

West: I decided to play for Lafayette because I really enjoyed my visit, the football facilities are incredible, it's an academic school, and it seemed like the right fit for me.

Connection: What position(s) will you play?

West: I will be playing running back and possibly some special teams.

Connection: What are you most looking forward to about life in college?

West: I really look forward to playing in the games at a college level, but I also look forward to meeting new friends, teammates, and learning new things about football and economics, which I am majoring in as of now.

Connection: At what age did you start playing football?

West: I started playing football in fifth grade for the McLean Mustangs.

Connection: When did you realize playing college football was an option for you?

West: After my junior season I began to hear from various colleges and coaches and it was an incredibly exciting process that I had dreamed of being a part of since I was very young.

Connection: What is your favorite memory of playing football at Langley?

West: I have an incredible amount of great memories playing for Langley. Two of my favorites were winning the incredible close Madison game my senior season that we needed to win to make the playoffs and winning the incredibly close Battlefield playoff game my junior season. Each game was incredibly fun to be a part of for me though.

Connection: How would you describe the McLean/Langley rivalry?

West: The McLean rivalry is an incredible one. Before each game, both teams are incredibly fired up and no one from either school wants to lose, including the fans. The stands are always packed from both sides and the kids go crazy for the entire game. You're playing against people that you have grown up with which makes it really special. It's always one of the most fun games of the season, no matter how close the game turns out to be. Everyone gives it their all and it is truly a battle each play.

Connection: Have you ever tried a sport and found out you were embarrassingly bad at it?

West: Golf is definitely my worst sport and I've only played it a couple times.

Connection: Do you have a specific game day routine?

West: On game day I would always spend the school day forcing down as much water as I could and then after school we would all hang out together in the locker room preparing for the game.

Connection: You're sitting around playing a board game with family/friends. Do you play to have fun or play to win?

West: I try to play for both. I hate to lose, so if I'm winning, I'm always having fun.

Connection: What do you like to do when you’re not playing a sport?

West: When I'm not playing sports I like to hang out with my friends.

Connection: Are you a pro sports fan? Which team(s) do you root for?

West: I'm a Washington sports fan in general.

Connection: What location is the farthest you've traveled from the Washington, D.C metro area?

West: The farthest I've traveled is probably Europe when I was in elementary school.

Connection: What’s your favorite food?

West: My favorite food is pizza.

Connection: Who is your favorite music artist? Why?

West: My favorite music artist is Lil Wayne because I would always listen to him before our games and his music gets me pumped to play.

Connection: What is your favorite movie? Why?

West: My favorite movie is ‘The Longest Yard,’ because it's about my favorite sport.