SASKATOON — If the name rings a bell, there’s a reason.

Darius Bell is adhering to a rich family tradition by excelling on the gridiron.

Bell, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ third-round selection (29th overall) in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft, is one of three football players in his family.

His younger brother, Tiki Bell, is to make his debut at Utah State in the fall.

Their father, Curtis Bell, is a former CFL receiver.

“Football was definitely instilled in us at a young age,” Darius Bell, a 23-year-old centre, said after the Roughriders’ rookie-camp workout on Thursday. “Ever since I can remember, I always had a football in my hand. That’s just what we did as a family.

“We were watching football or playing it. Our whole house was a football house.”

The Bell brothers grew up in Hamilton, where their father began his CFL career. Curtis Bell was selected by the Tiger-Cats in Round 2 (11th overall) of the 1989 Draft. He also spent time with Toronto in 1989 and remained with the Argonauts in 1990 before joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the following year.

Darius took after his father by playing on offence. Tiki, by contrast, is a defensive tackle.

“We have the potential to play against each other,” Darius said. “That would be crazy.

“It’s cool to have one of us on offence and one of us on defence. It has always been a rivalry and it continues that way.”

All of this prompts the question: Considering that Curtis Bell’s playing weight was 170 pounds, how did his sons end up at 300 or more?

“I don’t know,” Darius replied with a laugh. “We just kept growing. It’s a mystery to this day.”

His football talents, by contrast, are well documented.

Bell played college football at Maine from 2021 to 2023 before suiting up for East Carolina in 2024 and 2025.

Along the way, he earned a degree in communication. Last fall, he also began working toward a master’s degree in kinesiology.

“(Playing football professionally) is the dream and it has been since I was a kid,” Bell said, “but it’s great to have something to fall back on whenever my time (in football) is done. I’m very blessed for that.”

Bell’s academic proficiency was recognized when he made the Dean’s List at East Carolina in the spring of 2025.

“He’s extremely smart,” Head Coach Corey Mace said, “and, for someone playing (centre), we require a lot.

“Luckily for him, he’s around somebody in (2025 All-CFL centre) Logan Ferland who has been around the game a long time and is extremely smart in being able to identify things even before they transpire.

“(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. 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.”

HUGHES NEWS

Defensive back JuJu Hughes has been one of the standouts at rookie camp, which concludes on Friday morning at Griffiths Stadium.

“He has been making some plays the last couple of days,” Mace noted.

Hughes had an interception on Wednesday and a pass knockdown on Thursday.

Mace also lauded defensive end Justin Weaver and two Florida-born receivers — Tyrie Cleveland and Freddie Swain.

Also of note on Day 2 of rookie camp:

• Seyi Oladipo Jr. had an interception for the second consecutive day. Garnett Hollis Jr. made Thursday’s other pick.

• Hollis Jr., Hughes and University of Regina Rams product Carson Sombach had pass knockdowns.

• Sombach and receiver Abdul Janneh Jr. produced the collision of the day — albeit inadvertently during a non-padded practice.

• Tommy Stevens found receiver Juwann Winfree on a deep corner pattern.

• University of Saskatchewan Huskies graduate Daniel Wiebe made a leaping catch while falling backward near the sideline.

• Jaylen Johnson hit the turf to scoop up a low pass.

“It’s going to be a tight competition among the rookies,” Mace said. “There are going to be some who push the vets, too, so that’s a good issue.”

The main portion of Coors Light Training Camp, veterans included, begins on Sunday.

Saskatchewan’s pre-season opener is on May 18 against the host Calgary Stampeders.

The Roughriders will then play host to Winnipeg on May 23 at Griffiths Stadium.

All seats have been sold for the Roughriders’ first pre-season game in Saskatoon since 1991. Standing room tickets are available by clicking HERE.