For Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive lineman Darius Bell, football has always been a family affair.
From the time he could walk, Bell says there was always a football in his hands. Growing up in a household led by former CFL receiver Curtis Bell, the game became part of the family identity. Now, the 2026 third-round pick is continuing that tradition while carving out a path of his own in green and white.
That path is getting close to truly beginning for Bell. He was ramping up his training last week after starting the season on the six-game injured list because of an ankle issue.
“It’s definitely been kind of instilled in us since a young age,” Bell explained during this year's training camp in Saskatoon. “Ever since I can remember, I always had a football in my hand. Really, just all growing up, that’s just what we did as a family, all of us watching it, playing it, everything. Our whole house was a football house.”
Bell’s younger brother, Tiki, is preparing for his freshman season at Utah State. At the same time, Darius has already taken a winding football journey that carried him from Maine to East Carolina before ultimately landing in the CFL.
The 6-foot-4 offensive lineman notes that the first few days of camp have been a whirlwind. Still, he’s embraced the opportunity to learn from veterans and immerse himself in a professional environment.
Bell is entering a position room anchored by veteran centre Logan Ferland, one of the CFL’s top offensive linemen. The rookie has been studying the film adaptation of Ferland’s play, hoping to reach that level himself eventually.
“I’ve been watching a lot of film from last year,” Bell said. “Just seeing how he plays and how he knows what’s going on before they even get to the line. It’s inspiring to be able to hopefully get to that level one day.”
Bell’s eagerness to learn caught the attention of coach Corey Mace.
“He’s extremely smart,” Mace said. “And, for someone playing centre, we require a lot. Bell will learn a lot from Ferland, but from what we’ve given him and put on his plate, he has been excellent from a mental standpoint.”
Mace added that the biggest adjustment for Bell will simply be adapting to the Canadian game.
“For him, it’s just going to be a matter of adjusting to the yard off the ball and adjusting to the play speed and maybe some of the strength when the pads come on. We definitely don’t think it’s going to be too much of an issue for him.”
Bell’s football intelligence extends beyond the field. He earned a communications degree during his college career and has already started work toward a master’s degree in kinesiology.
“This is the dream. It’s been since I was a kid,” Bell said. “But to have something good to fall back on whenever my time here is done, it’s great. Not a lot of people have that, and I’m very blessed for that.”
Even with the accomplishments, Bell says the road to professional football hasn’t been easy.
“A lot’s gone into it, a lot that nobody would ever know about,” he said. “It definitely hasn’t always been easy. There’s been ups and downs the whole way, all the way up until now. But you know what, it’s been a fun ride, and I’m excited for what’s next.”
For Bell, much of the unseen work happens long after practice ends.
“People don’t see the hours of meetings we have after this, the install,” he explained. “When we go back to our housing, and we’re on the iPads, learning on the playbook, all that stuff. This is the one percent of what we do. There’s another 99 percent of what gets us to on the field.”
Now, Bell hopes all of those hours from backyard battles with his younger brother to late nights studying film and playbooks can help him take the next step in a family legacy deeply connected to football.
