Hearty And Healthy, Buffs' Gillam 'Can't Wait' For Fall
April 12, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — As the Colorado Buffaloes progressed through spring drills this year, the list of players unable to participate was substantial.
The group included three players who began the 2015 season in the starting lineup but had their years cut short by season-ending injuries. Those three — linebacker Addison Gillam, offensive lineman Jeromy Irwin and quarterback Sefo Liufau — spent the entire spring on the sidelines as well. They continued to rehab their injuries, spend as much time as possible in the weight room, work on their conditioning — and watch.
Now, with spring drills in the rearview mirror and fall camp on the horizon, Gillam is tired of watching. The 2013 freshman all-American is tired of playing catchup from the sidelines, tired of trying to make progress without participating — and most of all, tired of injuries.
But all of that, he believes, will soon be in the past. The knee injury that sent him to the sidelines after just two games last season is almost fully healed. He's been jogging, lifting and strengthening his body, while at the same time putting some needed pounds back on a body that's been battling injury for most of the past two years.
Now, he says, it's go time. If all goes well, he'll be cleared for full participation in June, just in time to take part in voluntary summer sessions and offseason strength and conditioning drills. By the time fall camp rolls around — players are tentatively scheduled to report on Aug. 3 — he'll be rested and ready.
Emphasis on “ready.”
“This is the longest period of time I've been away from the game, and it's not easy,” Gillam said after Monday's final spring practice. “Seeing everybody out here … it's just hard. I'm really, really ready to get back and start playing again. You sometimes don't realize how much you miss it until you can't be out there.”
After a spectacular freshman season in 2013 — he was the first freshman to lead CU in tackles (119) since they were first tracked in 1964 — Gillam struggled through an injury- and illness-plagued sophomore season. He still finished finished second on the team in tackles (79), despite missing one complete game and most of another.
But all seemed to be back on track a year ago, and he opened as the starter at inside linebacker — only to see his season ended by a knee injury in Week 2 in a win over UMass. That led to surgery, the long rehabilitation process and the pain of not being able to help as his teammates struggled to a 4-9 finish.
Still, while the layoff has been frustrating on many levels, there's also been a silver lining. Gillam has added some weight back to his frame — he's now a solid 225 pounds — as well as some upper body strength that will be invaluable in fending off offensive linemen. He looks bigger, stronger and healthier than any time in his stay at Colorado.
And, along with the physical recovery, the layoff has also meant an opportunity to work on the mental aspect of his approach.
“The whole thing has given me a chance to clear things,” Gillam said. “It gave me a chance to step back, calm down and assess things. Going into last year, I was hungry after my sophomore season, which didn't really go like I wanted it to.
“Now, it's grown even that much more. If there's a positive, it's that I'm even more ready to get out there and play, mentally and physically.”
One of the most frustrating parts of the spring came as Gillam watched the Buffs' defense take some significant strides without him having the opportunity to contribute.
A year ago, CU spent the spring trying to install then-new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt's scheme. There was much more learning than actually doing.
But this spring, the Buffs installed some tweaks early, then spent the rest of the spring playing and improving. By almost all accounts, the defense had a solid 15 practices that should serve as the perfect springboard to summer workouts and fall camp.
“I think we looked awesome,” Gillam said. “I don't think there's any doubt that we've improved a lot since last year. I can't wait to get back out there and help.”
When Gillam does return, he'll find the company at inside linebacker much more crowded — and much more experienced.
After Gillam's injury last fall, freshman Rick Gamboa stepped in and played well. Gamboa finished with a team-high 96 tackles, and was one of the players Leavitt singled out as having an excellent spring.
Also returning will be two-year starter Kenneth Olugbode (80 tackles last year), and jumping into the mix will be junior college transfer Drew Lewis, who is expected to step in and immediately compete for a starting spot. Throw senior returnee Ryan Severson into the equation, and it all adds up to some excellent depth at a position that was extremely thin just a year ago.
“Sitting out most of last year and this spring really hard,” Gillam said. “But it did help me gain some weight, get my strength up and really make me hungry to play again.
“But it was hard not being out there and being able to fully understand everything we're doing. When you see what we did this spring, you know we're going to have a really good fall and I want to be a part of it. We have the chance to be a great defense next year and I can't wait to get back out there and get it going again.”
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
