22 Dylan Ching

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Pos: SB
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 200
College: San Diego
Years Rider: 2
Years Pro: 2

Hometown: Lahaina Maui, Hawaii

2002 Preseason: Was injured in training camp and early last season and lost the open starting job to rookie Canadian SB Jason French. When he came back, never did capture the success he had as a rookie. This will be the "Hawaiian-Canadian's" year to show that 2000 was not a fluke now that SB Dan Farthing is not returning.

2001 Preseason: With one CFL season under his belt, he may emerge as a go-to-guy the Riders hope he could be. Showed good hands last season and was a very reliable holder on placekicks.

2000 Regular Season: Saw occasional action at slotback and looked good catching the football when thrown his way. Displayed good body control and hands as a receiver. Became invaluable as a placekick holder as he saved a number of bad snaps on field goal attempts.

2000 Preseason: Won a spot on the roster by displaying good hands, true grit and some football smarts. Still learning the game, but is expected to be a big contributor in the near future. Needs to learn some of the tricks to get separation between himself and defensive backs. Will be the holder on placekicks.

College: All-time leading pass receiver in San Diego history with 189 catches for 3111 yards and 32 TDs. Decent speed (4.6 in the 40), but has great hands, great moves and gets good YAC (yards after catch). Was coached previously by Rider offensive line coach Bill Dobson at USD. Was invited and played in 2000 Hula Bowl, but unfortunately is best known for a fumble that lead to a TD for the opposing team. Father, Cyrus "Bon" Ching, died last November, just before learning of Dylan's invitation to Hula Bowl.

Personal: Born and raised in Hawaii. Qualifies to be classified as a Canadian because he had lived with his paternal grandparents in Coquitlam, B.C. for five years when he was a child. Mother, Laura Blears Ching, was a champion surfer in the '70s and appeared in Playboy (before Dylan was born). Father, Bon Ching, was also a surfer. Grandfather, Lord James "Tally Ho" Blears, was a professional wrestler. Granadmother, Lee Blears, still teaches aerobics at the age of 81 to senior citizens. One of only three native Hawaiians currently playing in CFL. Others are QB Brian Ah Yat (Winnipeg) and DE Inoke Breckterfield (Toronto).

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Yeah!: Ching celebrates after scoring a touchdown.

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Learn from the vet: Duane Dmytryshyn (#28) gives some pointers to rookies Antonio Wilson (#89) and Dylan Ching (#82) in training camp.

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Ankle-biter: Ching gets taken down.

Interesting article on his grandmother, Lee Blears:

http://starbulletin.com/2000/03/13/news/story3.html

Dylan happy to be drafted by Riders (excerpt from Honolulu Advertiser):

Ex-Kamehameha star Ching chosen in Canadian football draft

Advertiser Staff

Two days after his 22nd birthday, Dylan Ching got his best present ever.

Ching, a 1996 Kamehameha Schools graduate from Lahaina, yesterday was drafted by the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.

Ching, a three-time All-Pioneer Football League wide receiver for University of San Diego, was the first player chosen in the third round and the 15th overall. He was the only player with Hawaii ties among 46 selected in the full six-round CFL draft.

Canadian Football League spokesman Jeff Dominic said Ching was a “potential roster buster” because he qualifies as Canadian but all his football training is American.

Ching lived in Vancouver, B.C., for about five years as a child.

Half of every CFL roster, except for quarterbacks, must be “non-imports,” Canadians by birth or residence.

“Most of the good players in the CFL are Americans, and there are plenty of those to choose from,” Dominic said. “There are fewer Canadian stars, they are in big-time demand, and they make more (money).”

“I’m so happy I got a chance to play a little longer,” Ching said yesterday. “A lot of people don’t get to play after college. I was banking on somebody giving me a chance to show what I can do.”

At San Diego he did a lot, setting career records with 189 receptions, 3,111 yards and 32 touchdowns.

“I think he can make an immediate impact,” Dominic said. “The Canadian football style favors smaller, faster players who are really good with the ball.

“It’s a classic place for a small-college player to flourish. They seem to work up here, for whatever reason.”

Ching thinks his versatility will help on the 39-player CFL roster. In college, he returned punts and kickoffs, and was a holder for placekicks. “It’s another ticket for me,” said Ching, who is 5 feet 10, 210 pounds and on Sunday ran his fastest test 40-yard dash of 4.6 seconds.

“Running 40s doesn’t count,” Ching said. “It just counts when you play on the field.”

Ching played in the Hula Bowl all-star game on Maui in January.

Defensive lineman Matt Elam of Hawaii was signed to a free-agent contract by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week. Also in the league are Winnipeg quarterback Brian Ah Yat (Iolani ’94, Montana) and Toronto Argonauts defensive end Inoke Breckterfield (Damien ’95, Oregon State), both second-year players, and offensive lineman Patrick Kesi (Farrington ’91, Washington) who finished last season with Winnipeg after playing at Toronto.

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