Before Saturday’s East Division deciding game, let’s take a look back at three REDBLACKS that had great success with Hamilton in the past.
We’ll start with the most recent member of the Tabbies, wideout Greg Ellingson. The Tampa, Florida native signed with the Tiger-Cats just prior to the 2013 CFL season and enjoyed an outstanding rookie year in Hamilton.
He recorded an even 800 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Ellingson’s QB that season, was none other than REDBLACKS starter Henry Burris. Over that year, Ellingson was considered Hank’s favourite target and the two had an undeniable on-field chemistry.
That same chemistry explains why Ellingson is having a career-year with the REDBLACKS. Back with Burris, he’s only 81 yards away from 1000 on the season and already has six TDs.
Over his 16-year CFL career, Henry Burris has played with four different teams including a short, two-season stint with the Ticats. In 2012, his first year in Hamilton, Hank set career-highs in passing yards (5,367), completions (391) and touchdowns (43).
The next season, though not as packed with personal stats, Burris led his team to the 101st Grey Cup, where they unfortunately lost to the defensive juggernaut Saskatchewan Roughriders.
With the REDBLACKS this year, Henry is on pace to smash two of three of those records, currently boasting 453 completions and 5,335 passing yards with one game remaining.
Williams broke into the league with the Tiger-Cats in 2011 and promptly won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award. He followed up that campaign with one of the greatest seasons in recent CFL history. Williams made 83 receptions for 1298 yards, while scoring 11 touchdowns. He added 1373 combined return yards and seven return touchdowns to those totals as well.
Chris still holds the CFL record for most return touchdowns in a season and trailed only Chad Owens of the Toronto Argonauts for most all-purpose yards with 2681 that year. Williams’ accomplishments throughout the 2012 season earned him the CFL’s Special Teams Player of the Week Award four times, and culminated with him being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
