Don Landry | Argonauts.ca Insider
The Three Towers. The Big Three.
Just a couple of nicknames being tossed around, attached to Toronto Argonauts’ receivers Tori Gurley, Vidal Hazelton and Kevin Elliott. With a combined 827 yards receiving on 65 catches – 9 of those for touchdowns – the monikers are appropriate. They say as much about the trio’s production as their physical attributes.
The story of the rise of the Argos’ big, first-year receivers is one of similar statures and personalities. It’s also one of fast friendships that have led to some tight knitting in the team’s locker room. A blending of skill sets and a bonding of personalities that has, so far, survived the raging controversies over video game supremacy.
Have three separate conversations with them and some things become clear; They like each other, they needle each other and they’re sure they make each other better.
“How close we are now, you’d think we’ve been playing together a long time,” says Hazelton, the 27-year-old native of New York City who leads the Argos in receiving yards with 332, collecting 26 receptions and 2 touchdowns so far.
“We gel together real well,” Elliott says of their talents and personalities. “We really just love the game of football.”
They have not been playing together a long time at all. Elliott and Hazelton were at camp from the outset. Gurley didn’t arrive until about a week and a half later. “We all came in with the same mindset,” says Elliott. “Pretty much had a chip on our shoulders.”
The three of them are close, even though they’d not really known each other very well before convening with the Argos back in June. Gurley and Elliott spent a training camp together with the Buffalo Bills. Hazelton and Elliott, who are now roommates, had a few college connections in common. Now, they are thick as thieves inside and outside of their football world, playing video games, working out and just generally spending time together in a group that often includes quarterback Trevor Harris as well. “We hang out all the time,” says Hazelton.
My conversation with Hazelton was cheekily interrupted by Elliott, who was looking to stir things up when it comes to video game bragging rights. Hazelton and Gurley agree that Elliott rules the roost when it comes to Call Of Duty, but when Elliott claims to be able to stay with Hazelton a bit when it comes to FIFA video soccer, Hazelton begs to differ. “He’s one hundred per cent a liar,” he laughs, claiming to have beaten Elliott at least six times in a row now. “Make sure you write that down.”
The dynamic is never ending. Hazelton, Gurley and Elliott have a desire to know who’s best, who’s on top. Relentlessly.
“Everything we do, no matter what it is, we’re always competing,” says Elliott, an assertion that is backed up by Hazelton; “That’s the thing between us. Whether it’s who gets the best wings at a restaurant or who wins the most games of FIFA, there’s always a competition.”
“We’re just lettin’ it all hang out,” says Gurley, the 27-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, who leads the team with 4 touchdown receptions and has hauled in 19 passes for 229 yards. He agrees the three share close bonds and a common desire to be on the mountain top. It is a feeling that extends to the football field, be it for practice or on game day.
“We’re very competitive. I think that’s how we’ve made it this far in life,” Gurley says, before commenting on a little contest the three of them have going; one that has nothing to do with catches or yards or touchdowns. They are keeping track of how many defenders each of them knock on their butts during games.
“Honestly, I’m losing in that right now,” Gurley admits, his annoyance at being the trailer fairly obvious. “Over the past two weeks, they kinda pulled away. I’m definitely looking forward to playing on Saturday (at home against Saskatchewan) and being able to get some knockdowns.”
“We take pride in blocking,” Hazelton says of the pancake contest. Leading Gurley in the category must give him a jolt, seeing as how he says Gurley is avoiding him when it comes to playing EA Sports NFL Madden. “He’s runnin’ from me too,” Hazelton says, getting two teammates with one snark. Gurley finds this amusing. “I’ve been in the top one per cent in the world in Madden for about a year now,” he snorts. “He’s (Hazelton) gonna keep talking but he really doesn’t wanna play.”
What’s obvious to anyone who’s seen the Argonauts in action this season is that Gurley, Elliott and Hazelton really do want to play and that they relish using their size and strength out on the field. That they could combine as a formidable force seemed obvious to them almost straight away.
“You could definitely tell that we had a lot of upside and potential,” says Elliott, of the early days at training camp. The 26-year-old from Fayetteville, North Carolina has enjoyed the Canadian game, especially the running start he can get at slot. “The waggle’s a game-changer,” he says.
Elliott, who stands 6’3″ and weighs 213 pounds, has collected 20 passes for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. Hazelton is 6’3″, 212 pounds. Gurley stands 6’4″ and weighs in at 230.
“We’re all really aggressive receivers,” Hazelton says when asked to talk about the trio’s physical similarities. “Catching and attacking the ball. Knowing that every pass that goes up there is mine. We all believe that we’re number one receivers.”
That can be a problem on some teams but not this one, Hazelton insists.
“I really enjoy playing with K.E. and Chad (Owens) and Gurley, man. It’s so much fun playing with them. Nobody’s selfish. Everybody knows that we all get each other open. We all know that.”
“A lot of people like to talk about us (The Big Three),” says Gurley, “but we’re blessed with a lot of talent around here. It goes beyond just the guys you see playing on game day. We’re really loaded at receiver.”
“We’re really deep at receiver as far as talent,” agrees Elliott, who says he is likely the one to be called the joker of the group.
“I guess you could say me,” he admits after some hesitation. “We all have our moments but I’m always that guy that’s smiling, trying to keep the group uplifted, and just breaking little jokes. Keep everybody loose.”
Hazelton seems to keep it loose, too. “I need to start coming up with some good pranks,” he says, noting that it can be fun to take pictures of Elliott when he’s sleeping. Many athletes will tell you that it is essential for a team to have its band of merry men and for Gurley, the humour is welcome.
“Man, I enjoy it,” he says enthusiastically. “Our lockers are next to each other and they keep the locker room uplifted. They have great spirit. It’s just a lot of fun. A lot of people feed off their energy. I know I do.”
There’s the essential element in the rapid coming together of Hazelton, Elliott and Gurley. For all their needling and their propensity to try and one up each other, there is an understanding that their collective talent leads to mutually assured production.
“It’s like a legit brotherhood,” says Hazelton. “I love it. It just makes coming to work a lot easier.”
“Legit Brotherhood” might not roll off the tongue as well as “Three Towers,” or “Big Three.” But as far as nicknames go, for Elliott, Gurley and Hazelton, it might be most appropriate.