"You sometimes say, 'This guy is a threat to score every time he touches the football.' I'm not sure it's ever been truer in the CFL than it is of Chris Williams."
That was Duane Forde's call as Williams broke a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, giving the Hamilton Tiger-Cats a 10-1 lead at the time. Williams' touchdown - his fifth return TD of the year - was lost in the Alouettes' eventual win on Thursday, but it tied the all-time single season record for return TDs set over 20 years ago by Gizmo Williams, and we're only eight games in.
Williams also vaulted past legend Earl 'The Pearl' Winfield in Ticats' record books and, combined with his five receiving touchdowns so far this season, is on pace to challenge Milt Stegall's single-season touchdown record of 23. And if not for his showboating mistake against the Alouettes earlier this season, Stegall's record would really be in jeopardy.
Those stats are enough to make you wonder - as Duane Forde suggested - is Williams the greatest scoring threat of all-time in the CFL?
As mentioned earlier, the New Mexico State product is a threat to score as both a return man and receiver. He has twice been named the Special Teams Player of the Week, as well as picking up the July Special Teams Player of the Month, and was last year's Most Outstanding Rookie.
Williams isn't just a big play receiver either - QB Henry Burris targets him often; the diminutive receiver leading the team in both receptions (41) and yards (652) this season.
It's an incredible start, but Williams is just 23 games into what Ticats fans surely hope is a long CFL career. It's yet to be seen if the 24-year-old will have the longevity to see his career scoring numbers equal those of Stegall, George Reed, or Mike Pringle.
But watching the sophomore receiver, it's hard not conjuring up images of the great scoring threats throughout the years; guys like Gizmo, Pinball Clemons, and even Allen Pitts.
The Rouge asks: Where does Chris Williams rank among all-time scoring threats in the CFL?
