By Stampeders.com Staff

You want degree of difficulty? Jeff Fuller has just the catch for you.

Near the midway point of the fourth quarter during Friday’s season-opening victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Stampeders receiver’s eyes locked in on a deep throw by Bo Levi Mitchell and, despite close coverage by a pair of Ticats, hauled in the pass.

The play is equally impressive at full speed and in slow motion. Ed Gainey, the Ticat assigned with primary coverage, is with Fuller step for step. Courtney Stephen, coming from the middle of the field to provide assistance to Gainey, is closing ground in a hurry. But Fuller has eyes only for the football. He lunges, stretches out his arms, catches the end of the football and somehow manages to hang on despite Gainey’s swipe at his arms and a hard landing on the McMahon Stadium turf.

That was a career-long 48-yarder in the books for the third-year Stamp out of Texas A&M, but it wasn’t his most notable reception of the night. That honour goes to a play in the final minute of the contest. With just 24 seconds left on the clock, the Stamps down by two points and facing a do-or-die third-and-18, Mitchell looks for Fuller again. This time, Fuller in on the left sidelines and Gainey is once again close enough to touch the rangy Stamps receiver as he tracks the pass. The Stamp, the Ticat and the football all converge and an intent Fuller somehow manages to snag the pass and get his feet inbounds.

This all happens in front of the Calgary bench and the play elicits great excitement from 300-lb. Stamps defensive lineman Quinn Smith, who jumps up and down like a kid whose been told he can skip the liver and lima beans and start digging into a banana split.

A couple of plays later, Rene Paredes kicks the game-winning field goal and the Stamps are 1-0.

“I’ve been out for a while,” remarks Fuller, “and I wanted to come through for my teammates. Fortunately, I was able to come up with the opportunity to make a play, and I did.”

All told in the opener, Fuller made nine catches for a career-high 148 yards and sparked great anticipation among Stamps fans about what he’ll be able to accomplish in 2015 if he can stay healthy.

Fuller was off to a strong start last season with five touchdowns in eight games but then he separated his shoulder during an Aug. 16 contest in Hamilton. Seven weeks later, he returned to action but went right back into the medical clinic after hurting a knee. Fuller could only watch as his teammates went on to win the Grey Cup.

The knee proved troublesome in training camp and Fuller was unable to take part in either pre-season contest, but he was raring to go on Friday.

“It felt great,” he says. “I’ve been sitting here watching these guys go through practice, training camp, watched them win the Grey Cup last year. It feels great to contribute and, most of all, come out with the win.”

Since signing with the Stamps in September of 2013, Fuller has played a dozen regular-season games – essentially two-thirds of a full campaign – and made 53 catches for 780 yards and five majors. But the impression he has made goes beyond the numbers. He’s a big target – six-foot-four – with a penchant for making big plays.

“I know he’s been a factor every time he’s been on the field for us,” notes head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “He’s a big, athletic receiver with big, strong hands and good body control. So he’s tough to handle, no question about it.”

Opposition teams can’t help but play close attention to Fuller when he’s on the field, which could create openings for the other weapons at Mitchell’s disposal including Marquay McDaniel, Eric Rogers, Joe West, Anthony Parker and Simon Charbonneau-Campeau.

“I think we have a great team and a great group of receivers,” says Fuller. “I’m just excited.”

So are Stamps fans to see what Fuller can do for an encore in Week 2 in Montreal and beyond.