‘Lightning’ Lindsey Lamar – a moniker he earned during his time at the University of South Florida – has been a return revelation for the Ticats.
In two pre-season games, Lamar sprung for a punt return score in each contest and continued to find the end zone via kick return in Hamilton’s regular season opener.
He took back a kickoff, on his first official CFL touch, 104 yards for a major – the second longest kickoff return touchdown in Tiger-Cats franchise history.
In fact, his total of 227 return yards against the Argos set a new single game team record and got him named CFL Special Teams Player of the Week in the process.
Success on special teams is nothing new for the 23-year-old. Lamar was named the Big East Special Teams Player of the Year in 2010 after leading the conference with 842 return yards and two kick off return touchdowns.
He wasn’t just productive in the return game, either. Lamar finished his South Florida career with 3,162 all-purpose yards, proof he made plays whenever he got his hands on the football.
Ticats head U.S Scout, Danny McManus first saw Lamar on the scouting trail when South Florida hosted number four-ranked Florida State on September 29, 2012. The Bulls held their own against the powerhouse Seminoles, dropping a 30-17 decision. Despite the loss, Lamar impressed.
“He stepped up and played, he wasn’t taken back by the bright lights,” McManus said. “He was able to go out and perform like we see him doing now.”
Lamar’s pure speed stands out instantly when you watch him live, something he’s developed since he started running track from the age of 10 and kept going through high school and college. 
At USF he captured the 2012 60-meter indoor Big East title, clocking a school record time of 6.74 seconds. Prompting teammates, started by Bulls quarterback BJ Daniels, to call him “the fastest man in the Big East.”
“If that’s what they said than that’s what it is,” said the humble and soft-spoken, Lamar.
The speedster was just hitting his stride during his senior season at South Florida when adversity struck. On October 27, 2012 against Syracuse, Lamar had already rushed for a career-high 145 yards on just 10 carries, but in the fourth quarter he took a big shot to his left shoulder and had issues breathing.
He was taken to Tampa General Hospital and was diagnosed with a broken clavicle.
“The next morning they had to put it back in place,” Lamar explained.
The collarbone injury ended Lamar’s collegiate career, but he wasn’t about to let it crush his hopes of making it to the pro ranks.
“It was kind of discouraging, but at the same time I used it as motivation to keep going and get back healthy again,” Lamar said.
After his collarbone fully healed, Lamar spent six weeks training at Athlete’s Edge in Boca Raton, Florida in preparation for USF’s pro day, scheduled for March 6.
By that time Lamar was on Hamilton’s negation list and McManus was headed down to Florida to take in his pro day with his own two eyes. It was also McManus’ first face-to-face meeting with Lamar and he told him his CFL rights were property of the Ticats.
“I didn’t get a real good close look at him until his pro day at South Florida,” McManus said. “I was able to watch his pro day and look at some film.”
After the pro day, the more tape Danny Mac watched and more information he gathered, the more he liked Lamar. And the feeling was mutual because on May 29 Lamar and the Ticats agreed on a free agent deal to bring him to Hamilton.
“When I was first came up here, I was just hoping to make the team,” Lamar said. “It was tough. There is a lot of competition and a lot of talent up here.”
After three return touchdowns, Lamar is a budding CFL star and McManus likens his skills to those of an old Ticat who he suited up with.
“He reminds me a lot of Archie Amerson,” McManus said.
“That’s the way it was with Archie. He came up as a returner, when he first got here and developed into receiver – he was always a running back – but he developed into a receiver to where he gave you flexibility in your packages on offence.”
“Lindsey’s got the ability to do it. He’s got the skills. Now it’s just a matter of developing the craft as a receiver. It’s a little different than running between the tackles with the football. Now all of a sudden you’re out there in open space running routes.”
McManus believes Lamar is one of those dynamic players that should have the football in his hands as much as possible. In the Ticats Week 1 game versus the Argos, Lamar totaled 14 touches, 10 returns and four carries and on each touch it felt like Lamar had the chance to take it the distance. A similar feeling to what Chris Williams provided in 2012 for Hamilton.
Pundits have made the easy comparison between Lamar and Williams in the return game.
“From what I’ve heard and the highlights that I’ve seen, he’s a very explosive player. I feel like it’s an honour to be compared to him,” Lamar said.
