Episcopal Academy’s DeeWil Barlee is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The senior running back set the EA all-time record for career rushing yards (2,963) with a final burst of 143 yards in 29 carries during Episcopal’s 28-14 win on Haverford/EA Day. The record was formerly held by his brother Dee, a 2016 graduate, who accounted for 2,907 yards in four seasons. Next fall, Barlee will be attending Villanova University. EA football head coach Todd Fairlie said, “DeeWil is an exceptional player and person, he is the ultimate team player and is willing to do anything that’s asked of him to help the team. In his time here, he has become a terrific leader and role model for the players in our program and the students in our school.”
Q: What does it mean to you to break your brother Dee’s school rushing record? When did you become aware that you broke his record, and what was your first reaction when you found out you broke it?
A: It means a lot to me because not only is he my brother, he’s someone that I really look up to just as a person. For me to be able to break the record is just a blessing. Dee actually came up to me during a timeout and told me but I told him that I wasn’t finished yet. On the very next play [a 33-yard touchdown run] it was the final play for me on offense which was pretty special being able to share that moment with the person who held the previous record. I didn’t understand what I had done until Dee along with many other teammates and peers came around me cheering. I started to tear up and gave out a lot of hugs.
Q: How did you feel about it being your final game for EA?
A: I am happy we won the way we did; however, it’s hard to walk away from somewhere you’ve played all four years at.
Q: Tell us a little about the influence of your older brothers Dee and Cyrus – what have they meant to you as football mentors, and as life mentors?
A: Cyrus and Dee really help me understand that I can’t accomplish anything without putting in the effort and time. Along with a lot of family members, they basically said the same thing, but in different ways, so I had many ways in which I could attack life on and off the field.
Q: What attracted you to Villanova? What do you think you would like to major in at Villanova?
A: I’ve had an attraction to Villanova since my sophomore year. The thing that really had me sold was the fact that the coaches really care about me and my family. I would like to major in Civil Engineering.
Fun facts – DeeWil Barlee
Favorite book: Othello.
Favorite author: Shakespeare.
Favorite TV show: Family Guy.
Favorite movie: Friday.
Favorite athlete: Brian Dawkins.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Love Sosa.
Favorite team: “Philadelphia Eagles!”
Favorite place to visit: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Favorite pre-game meal: Fruits and Italian hoagie.
Person I most admire: “Brian Dawkins because to me he has the most respect from players to owners. Everyone loves him because of his positive energy and the way he carries himself.”
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
