Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
Tiger-Cats receiver Greg Ellingson is no stranger to scoring touchdowns.
Spending the past two years in the Arena Football League, Ellingson tallied 24 touchdowns, though if you ask him about it, he makes it seem that any ordinary man could do the same.
“You get a lot of chances to get in the end zone on a fifty yard field,” Ellingson joked.
But what the Tampa, Florida native has done in the first five games of the 2013 CFL season has been anything but ordinary. With 351 receiving yards after week five, Ellingson leads the Ticats and is ranked behind only Chad Owens on the CFL leaderboard.
It’s a surprise to many around the CFL, including Ellingson himself.
“Oh, really?” he replied when he was informed he had the second-most receiving yards in the CFL. “That’s awesome.”
Apparently not one to keep track of his personal statistics, Ellingson is also the last to give himself the credit for his on-field success. Despite the fact that he tallied his second 100-yard game Saturday and leads all Ticats in receiving yards, Ellingson is quick to deflect praise for his performance this season.
“I guess it was my week,” he answered humbly. “All of us go together as a receiving corps, and Henry puts the ball where it needs to go depending on coverage. If you do get the opportunities you have to make those plays.”
In contrast to his own reluctance for self-praise, Head Coach Kent Austin has been far more forthcoming with his positive impressions of the first-year receiver.
“Greg is smart, he understands what our offence is trying to do according to the defences we’re playing,” he said. “He has some sneaky quickness – he’s a little faster than people realize when he’s at full speed, and he’s got great hands. He has a knack for making plays.”
Making plays is certainly what Ellingson has done this season. He ranks second on the Ticats in catches, and scored his first career CFL touchdown in Saturday’s game against the Roughriders. Despite the plethora of scores Ellingson tallied in the AFL, he admits that this one was likely the most special of his career.
“This one definitely means a lot more to me,” he said. “(The CFL) is much more of a professional league. I did keep the ball and I’ll probably send it home and do something with it.”
What makes Ellingson’s genuine humility off the field all the more significant is the swagger he plays with on the field. After scoring on Saturday, Ellingson celebrated by cradling the football in his arms and laying down to sleep, which he admits has led to some ribbing from teammates.
“The linemen have been making fun of me for that one,” Ellingson said with a smirk on his face. “Me and C.J. (Gable) had something planned but he was too far away from me, so I just went with something I knew from before.”
Celebrations aside, Ellingson’s performance so far in 2013 has been a blessing for a Ticats team struggling with injuries. With Andy Fantuz and Ed Gant still sidelined, he should continue to get plenty of balls thrown his way, and plenty of opportunities to find the end zone.
If he can continue to produce at his current pace, Ellingson will finish the season with over 1250 yards and 75 catches, which would likely rank him in the top five of both categories. For a guy who flew under the radar during much of training camp, Ellingson has certainly proven his worth to the Ticats in 2013.
Whether or not his performance will continue for the rest of the season is yet to be determined, but two things are for certain. Defences have taken note, and Ellingson’s success will no longer be a surprise to anyone.
