What different looks will the sagging Ottawa Redblacks have for soaring Hamilton Tiger-Cats?
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The more familiar to most CFL 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.
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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.
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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.
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'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.'
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While many teams prefer not to exhaust their continuously sprinting receivers by making them also field punts and kicks, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Pimpleton is used to the dual responsibilities.
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'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.'
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Meanwhile, making his Redblacks debut on Saturday will be Ayinde Eley, a 6-foot-3, 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.
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