Riders’ Malcolm Bell ready to make first CFL start against B.C.

Defensive back Malcom Bell could be making his first CFL start this week against last season’s Most Outstanding Player in B.C. Lions quarterback, Nathan Rourke.

But the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back doesn’t believe the pressure is on him in Friday’s showdown at B.C. Place.

“I’m not under pressure — I’m the rookie. He’s the one who has to prove he is one of the best players in the league,” Bell said. “To be honest, I’ve seen what I’ve seen. He’s been playing every week and every week everyone is talking about him, and I’ve seen the highlights.”

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Bell was the Riders’ first-round pick (ninth overall) in this year’s CFL Draft. The Montreal, Que., product made 11 starts as a senior with the Michigan State Spartans. He had career highs in tackles (49) and tackles for loss (5), while also posting a team-high six pass breakups and adding one sack. He attended rookie minicamp with the Cleveland Browns.

On May 13, the team announced he signed a contract with the Riders and joined training camp late.

Bell appears set to start this week after the team moved Marcus Sayles from cornerback to the halfback spot, which Jonathan Edouard had been occupying.

“I am really excited. It’s the chance I have been waiting for, and I have been working for it. Now the chance is coming, and I am ready and excited to be there,” Bell said.

According to Bell, one of the things he’s learned while waiting for this chance has been to be patient on the field.

“The game has really slowed down. I know what to look at. In the first couple of weeks, you just do what’s on paper. You don’t know what to look at or what your indicators are,” Bell said. “I can play faster because I know what to look at and where to go. The communication is easy because I know who I am playing with. It’s hard to know your personnel when you first come in.”

While he was taken ninth overall in the draft, Bell doesn’t believe that will affect how opposing teams try to attack him.

“People are still going to look at me if I’m in the first round or second round or last round. It doesn’t matter — there’s a new guy out there so they are going to look (there),” Bell said.

And though he’s excited for his first start, getting the win is the biggest thing he’s looking at accomplishing.

“I might start, but if I start and we lose —I’m still going to be happy, but we want to get the win. Starting is a detail but winning the game is the mission,” Bell said.

Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m.