Riders’ Ricardo Louis to make CFL debut in Labour Day Classic

Ricardo Louis isn’t new to rivalry games – and the slotback will make his CFL debut in one of the league’s most historic ones.

The 27-year-old will start for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their showdown with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday. Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is 4 p.m.

Louis knows what a big game between heated rivals feels like from his time in college while playing with the Auburn Tigers.

“It’s crazy when you talk about Auburn and Alabama (Crimson Tide) because my first introduction to a rivalry like that was at Bama and it was my freshman year and I just remember coming out of the tunnel – it’s late in the season so it’s pretty cold – and this guy is just so hype, he’s screaming at us and he took his shirt off. It showed me then how crazy it was,” Louis said. “Then when I got on the field the Alabama players were looking at us like they want to eat us.

“As I played more games against Bama, I was able to really understand the true meaning of the rivalry. It goes beyond just being on the field.”

And now he’s excited to make his mark on one of the CFL’s most heated games. He’ll take the roster spot of Paul McRoberts, who has been moved to the practice roster.

“The last couple of days, people have been talking about it and it’s a big rivalry. I’m excited when I hear that because it’s a lot of attention. There’s going to be a lot of guys that want to get out there to make plays and be physical and ultimately win the game,” Louis said.

Before coming to the CFL, Louis spent time in the NFL, playing three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Miami Dolphins.

While Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo admits he hasn’t had a lot of practice reps with Louis, he is excited to see what the first-year CFLer can do.

“From what I’ve seen, he’s a great route runner and he does a great job elevating and making a play when the ball is in his area and has tremendous hands,” Fajardo said.

“We felt like Ricardo had a good camp and Ricardo and Paul were really neck and neck all through camp. Ricardo was dealing with a bit of a hamstring (injury) before the bye so we went with Paul. Ricardo had a good week of practice this week and we felt like he deserved a shot so that’s why we did it,” head coach Craig Dickenson said of the move. “Ricardo is very explosive, has a lot of top-end (speed) and I think he’s got very strong hands as well. It takes time to learn the game and the reality is he came into camp as a first-year CFL player and it’s taken two months to learn the system and the nuances. He’s still going to have his (rookie) moments but we feel like he put his time in and deserves an opportunity to go play and show us what we can do.”

McRoberts made his CFL debut on Aug. 21 in the 23-10 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. McRoberts caught four passes for 42 yards in the game.

Dickenson admits it’s not an easy conversation to have with a player to tell him he is being put back onto the practice roster.

“Paul knows every week is a new week. Like our friend (linebacker) Sam Eguavoen said in Miami – rent’s due every week and if you put the work in, hopefully it pays off but everyone is trying to play,” Dickenson said.

Fajardo said he pulled McRoberts aside after the decision was made.

“I thought he did a tremendous job in the Ottawa game and he did everything he was asked to do,” Fajardo said. “He caught the ball and got yards after the catch and I told him we’re going to need him.

“The CFL’s a funny game where you might be down one week and then right back up the next week and I’ve seen it over and over again. I told him he’s going to be a big part of this team and if he doesn’t play again this year, he’s still a big part of this team because he went out there and helped us get a win against Ottawa.”

And now with an opportunity in front of him, Louis says he’s ready to play football again.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I’m blessed for the opportunity – thankful (the Riders) gave me the opportunity. I’ve been practising and running with the (second-stringers) and just sitting back and watching and learning. Now that the opportunity is there to play, it’s just a matter of applying everything I’ve learned, going out there and showing what I can do.”