Boise State-bound running back Dylan Riley is one-man 'Wreckin' Cru' for Rancho Verde

Humble, stylin', speedy senior back leads the Mustangs into Friday's Division 6 Southern Section playoff opener against Simi Valley

MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – His grandfather was an all-star football player at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. Another gramps is West Coast hip-hop royalty.

He has his own clothing line. And track and field sprint medals. And a college football scholarship. He’s Rancho Verde High School senior running back Dylan Riley. And he’s coming to an end zone near you.

“What makes Dylan special?” Riley’s coach, Eric Zomalt is asked.

“It starts with his humble approach,” said Zomalt, a former Cal star who played in the National Football League. “He doesn’t have a big ego for a super talented kid. If you never saw him play, you’d have no idea how good he is.”

Riley has it going on. Heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. Southern Section Division 6 first-round playoff game against visiting Simi Valley, he ranks fifth in the state in rushing (1,852 yards) and rushing touchdowns (27). Last month the track and field speedster committed to play running back at Boise State.

Rancho Verde senior running back Dylan Riley / Photo: John Murphy

Always ready

It is a pleasant 70 degrees — but busy — at Rancho Verde. As the Mustangs drill, volunteers set up for the 13-school band competition that will soon invade the field.

Riley isn’t in pads this day, dressed instead in black and red D2X gear that complements a 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. D2X stands for “Determined to Excel” – that’s Riley’s clothing line, but more on that later.

“I’m not practicing today,” Riley says. “I’m saving my legs.”

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We grab a ball and take some photos. Click-click-click. We climb into the bleachers and take some more. Click.

We move to the field and starting junior nose guard Eli “Big E” Epenesa wanders over. At 6-foot-3, 360, he’s a big kid.

“What’s up Mr. Photographer Guy?” Epenesa says.

Told about the Dylan Riley story, Epenesa says, “He’s pretty funny in the locker room. Sometimes we joke around before the game. But when it’s time, Dylan locks in. He’s always ready.”

Dylan Riley (24) has rushed for nearly 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in his prep career / Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

Born to run

Dylan was born to be a running back, says his father Willie Riley, who works for the Riverside County Office of Education maintenance and operations division. Willie’s side hustle is his custom apparel business, with Dylan’s D2X line being an offshoot of that.

“When he was 2 or 3, I knew he’d be a running back,” Willie said. “He’d run around the house with a sippy cup tucked under his arm.”

Dylan’s grandfather – the original Willie Riley – was a standout defensive tackle for Manual Arts High in Los Angeles. At 6-2, 232 pounds, he was easily the largest player on the 1967 All-Southern League second team.

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Dylan started playing when he was 6 years old on a team with his 8-year-old brother, Jah’mari.

“I was scared and nervous the first time he got tackled by a bigger kid,” said Dylan’s mom, Erika, who is a behavioral specialist for the Moreno Valley Unified School District. “I thought, ‘Oh, Lord.’ I was ready to rescue him, but my husband said, ‘It’s fine, babe. Let him play.’”

Dylan has done just that, rushing for 4,823 yards and 49 touchdowns in his career. That includes a five-game freshman season (COVID-19 shortened) at Valley View High of Moreno Valley before he transferred.

“When I’m in the open I feel like I’m running for my life,” Dylan said. “I feel like I gotta run hecka fast. And I don’t hear anything except my feet touching the ground. Then when I cross the goal line, I can hear the announcer a little bit and then the band.”

Dylan Thomas (left) is approachable and popular among the Mustangs / Photo: John Murphy

Wreckin' Cru

Almost as an aside, Willie Riley mentions his father-in-law. He is none other than DJ Alonzo “Lonzo” Williams, known as the godfather of West Coast hip-hop. 

No diggity.

Williams was a DJ and former member of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru with Dr. Dre, DJ Yella and artists like Michel’le. He is the former owner of Kru-Cut Records. At Williams’ studio in Gardena where hip-hop history was made, an award for NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” album hangs.

Alonzo Williams is the godfather of West Coast hip-hop and grandfather of Dylan Riley / Courtesy photo: Alonzo Williams

Reached by cell phone, Williams says, “My greatest memory would probably be seeing Dr. Dre and Ice Cube excel over the years. I’ve influenced those from the highest to the mid-level. There’s been Compton’s Most Wanted and Afroman. There have been a lot who have come through my camp.”

Asked if he’s seen his budding superstar grandson Dylan play, Williams says, “Oh yeah. I think he’s phenomenal. He’s been on that path since he was a baby. He’s always been a daring kid. He would jump off the steps of my house when he was 2 years old, and it used to scare me.”

Alonzo Williams (far right) with The World Class Wreckin' Cru / Courtesy photo: Alonzo Williams

DJ Lonzo got an eyeful of Dylan during his homecoming game this year. The Mustang star rambled for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

“He’s a phenomenal runner and a good dude overall,” Williams said.

Back at Rancho Verde practice before the marching bands take the field, “Big E” Epenesa, agrees.

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“Overall, Dylan’s a guy you want to be friends with,” Epenesa says. “Not because he’s popular, but because he genuinely humble.”

John Murphy is the sports editor of Century Group Media of Southern California. Follow him at @PrepDawg.

(All photos below by John Murphy, unless noted)

Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

The Riley family / Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

Dylan Riley's grandfather Willie Riley (69) was a 1967 All-Southern League star for Manual Arts / Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

As a youth star, Dylan Riley always had the ball in his hands / Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

Dylan Riley ran a best of 10.76 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior / Courtesy photo: Dylan Riley

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