If there’s one word that’s embraced by every player looking to make his first pro roster it’s “opportunity.”
For two members of the Toronto Argonauts, news that was made official just before the first day of training camp increased their opportunity to not only make the team, but if all goes well, the dress roster.
It was announced on Saturday that three Canadians were not in camp and had been placed on the suspended list; Robert Woodson, Nelkas Kwemo and Nick Shortill, the latter two being linebackers.
Add to that Sunday’s surprising news that Fabion Foote was joining them on that list, and four Canadians, all defensive players and all expected to be playing every game, were no longer with the team.
Enter Jack Cassar and Trevor Hoyte. The pair of rookies just saw their value to the team elevate substantially.
The duo being at Argo camp together is an interesting story on its own. They played together at Carleton University, Cassar as the middle linebacker with Hoyte on the weak side. Cassar was selected in the 2020 CFL Draft in the second round, 11th overall, while Hoyte was a fourth-round selection this year, chosen 33rd overall. They were also roommates while living at Carleton.
Both had a great chance to make the team regardless, but the recent roster moves have enhanced their – here comes that word again – opportunity to break camp wearing Double Blue.
“Seeing those guys not coming to camp this year gives us that opportunity to stick with the team and have a chance to play on defence along with special teams,” Cassar told Argonauts.ca after practice.
Hoyte was also aware of the roster moves but was more succinct in his assessment of the big picture.
“I’m just excited to be here,” he said with a smile when asked about the – you guessed it – opportunity. “That they’re not here is great, but I came here to compete. I didn’t really care who was in front of me, I just know I need to play my best football in order to play, so I’m just excited to do that.”
Cassar had the more impressive resume of the pair in terms of U Sports accolades. A two-time First Team OUA All-Star and an All-Canadian in 2019, the Mississauga native, who started his high-school career at Lorne Park Secondary, is known for not only his high skill level, but his style of play – a style Hoyte summed up succinctly.
“He hits hard,” said Hoyte with a chuckle, an opinion echoed by anyone who saw Cassar play with Carleton. “He hits damn hard.”
Hoyte was a Raven who flew under the radar by comparison. Though a First Team OUA All-Star himself, the native of Gatineau, Quebec was usually overshadowed by his roommate, but Cassar knows what kind of player Hoyte is, saying “He’s a fast linebacker who is going to flow to the ball.”
The door is wide open for the pair, and both players are more than capable of walking through it.
DOUBLE BLUE NEWS
On Day One both the offence and defence had excellent debuts. Sunday’s session saw the defence have the better day, which is the norm for the early days of training camp.
If there is any group that shows the personality of its positional coach, it’s the defensive backs. Josh Bell coaches with high energy, something shared by his players. It’s a big group in terms of numbers, but players were constantly encouraging each other and discussing things that happened on the field when they got to the sidelines during “skelly”.
Still on the defensive side of the ball, it was announced that tackle Fabion Foote has been added to the suspended list.
Running back AJ Oullette really likes football. There’s not much to add to that sentence, but his enthusiasm is infectious.
Several players made their debuts Sunday. They missed the previous day due to being in extended quarantine after getting back to Canada a day late due to flight delays. Among them, Henoc Muamba, Ricky Collins Jr., and Philip Blake.
Reports of Charleston Hughes having a big personality were not exaggerated. Before the second session started, the team was doing a stretching session. Hughes was at the front of one line, right against the sideline. All of the defensive players were on one half of the field, the offense was on the other.
Hughes started trash talking the offence from top to bottom, focusing on the members of the o-line. Offensive players were quick to chirp back, with Hughes’ age (37) being an easy target.
The banter left everyone laughing, or at least continuing to stretch with a huge smile on their face.
That kind of camaraderie coupled with a high talent level can take a team a long way.
