What different looks will the sagging Ottawa Redblacks have for soaring Hamilton Tiger-Cats?

Article content

Two players who were declared their team’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2024 will have important starting roles for the Ottawa Redblacks (1-4) when they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-2) for a critical division clash Saturday night.

The more familiar to most Canadian Football League fans will be Kalil (The Thrill) Pimpleton, who, along with his responsibilities as one of the team’s top receivers, will take on double duty as the Redblacks’ primary return specialist, replacing the injured DeVonte Dedmon.

Recommended Videos

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

What different looks will the sagging Ottawa Redblacks have for soaring Hamilton Tiger-Cats? Back to video

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

Pimpleton, who was one of the top returners in U.S. college football at Central Michigan four years ago, provided one of the CFL’s top highlights when he took a punt back 99 yards for a touchdown against Calgary in just his third game last season.

Folks might have thought they were watching a replay last week after Dedmon suffered a leg injury in the second quarter against Edmonton and the 26-year-old Pimpleton scored a 97-yard punt return on his first opportunity of 2025.

“I really take pride in the return position,” said Pimpleton, who in eight starts last season added 715 receiving yards on 45 catches and through five games this year has 18 grabs for 203 yards. “I really believe deep down in my heart that I’m a returner.”

While many teams prefer not to exhaust their continuously sprinting receivers by making them also field punts and kicks, the 5-8, 175-pound Pimpleton is used to the dual responsibilities.

“I played receiver and returner throughout the majority of my career … even in high school, I played quarterback, slot, returner, so I had a lot on my plate even then,” Pimpleton said. “It’s a matter of your body and making sure you’re doing the things, making sure you’re resting and getting off your feet when you have that opportunity to make sure when it’s time you can go and execute when you’re able to do that.”

Meanwhile, making his Redblacks debut on Saturday will be Ayinde Eley, a 63, 230-pounder out of George Tech who steps in at the weakside (WILL) linebacker spot as the next man up after injuries have sidelined both Davion Taylor and Frankie Griffin.

Credit to the Redblacks that they have a third option who was named the B.C. Lions Most Outstanding Rookie last year after recording 66 tackles, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, one sack and a fumble recovery in 17 games, then capped his season with three tackles and a forced fumble in the West Division semifinal against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“As soon as we found out he was released, we jumped right on it,” Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said in the signing of Eley as a free agent in February. “He’s a heck of a player. It showed up on the film last year, and I’m looking forward to seeing it show up on the film (Saturday).”

Eley, who was with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers for their training camp two years ago, was vague when asked why he was released by the Lions.

“When you’re in this business long enough, nothing’s forever and a lot of things are said,” he said with a shrug. “You’ve just got to roll with the punches. They made a decision on what they felt was right for their organization and it is what it is.”

While middle linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox is very much looking forward to lining up next to Eley, the 26-year-old prides himself on being “relentless.”

Said Eley: “I would like my love for the game to show through my play. I just want to do what I can to help my team win.”

Who will be the fourth man up as the Redblacks starting safety?

With Canadians Alonzo Addae, Justin Howell and now Charlie Ringland on the team’s extensive injured list, Ottawa will go with American Bennett Williams as the centre of its secondary.

The 6-foot, 206-pounder played in 11 games and started six as a rookie with the Redblacks, and he has started in four thus far this year, but mostly as a halfback and strong-side linebacker.

“I’m glad the coaches can trust me with (the safety job); versatility is definitely something I pride myself on,” said Bennett, Ottawa’s second-leading special-teams tackler with six. “(Learning different positions) is a challenge, but that’s something that I embrace. It excites me. You don’t get too bored around here, right? Always something to do and something to learn. I love it.”

What’s the biggest challenge facing Williams with his first start at safety?

The biggest challenge for Williams and the rest of the Ottawa defence will be to minimize the damage done by Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who leads the CFL with nine touchdown passes and is second in passing yardage with 1,219.

It’s Mitchell and Kenny Lawler, the league’s leading receiver with 483 yards, are salivating at the thought of going up against a first-time starting safety

What does the safety job include?

New for Williams will be his responsibility of “getting everybody lined up and knowing the checks … you’ve got to know the entire defence in and out.

“You’ve got to know how everything’s fitting together, knowing everybody’s assignments, where the blitz is coming from, who’s got to replace, where’s your help at, so knowing the down the distance, all that type of stuff. That’s something that this week I’ve definitely honed in on. I got to know all the extra stuff, not just OK, what am I doing in this position?”

Is a guy who plays linebacker fast enough to keep up with the Ticats’ receivers?

Williams is confident in his wheels.

“I did a lot of off-season work to get that speed up,” he said. “I won’t delve too deep into it, but for me, it was getting my hips a lot more loose and fluid, just being able to engage my whole body and not being limited.

“I think it’s shown so far this year on special teams and some of the stuff that I’ve been able to do, but now I get an opportunity to show it out there on defence.”

What are the other additions the Redblacks are making this week?

Second-year player Lucas Cormier of Sackville, N.B., comes off the injured list to play special teams and backup at the WILL spot, while King Ambers, an eighth-round pick from Pickering, makes his debut as a backup in the secondary and on special teams.

While right tackle Zack Pelehos is returning from a foot injury to make his first start, American DL Chase McGowan makes his debut as a backup on the defensive line.

What problems does Hamilton present to the Redblacks?

The Ticats have scored a total of 86 points in wins over Montreal and Toronto in the past two weeks, so to say they’re explosive may be an understatement.

“They come in (to Saturday’s game) with confidence,” Dyce said. “Obviously Bo Levi was very good last year and he seems to have more confidence right now. You see him putting the ball up and allowing his playmakers to make plays, so we have to be disciplined in what we do. Get the bodies where they need to be, and in those situations, know that we can go up and make the plays we need to.

“He’s doing a great job getting the ball out of his hands fast, and we’ve got to make sure that we push him to a secondary (receiver) so that our front seven can make him uncomfortable.”