Addison Gillam "is real close" to returning to impact form

BOULDER – When you cheer for a losing team, fans will be counting down the days for an injured player who once shined to get back on the field. When the team is winning, these guys get lost in all of the action. One of these guys for the Colorado Buffaloes is redshirt junior Addison Gillam.

Gillam has been on the field for all of the games this year, but head coach Mike MacIntyre has continued to slowly press him into game action. He is returning from a torn meniscus that cost him most of 2015 and was suffered in a game against Massachusetts on Sept. 12.

“He’s really good,” MacIntyre said about Gillam’s performance so far. “He played well Saturday; he’s getting better and better and he’s able to put more and more plays together. He’s a big part of our football team and he’ll be a bigger part as the season goes on.”

Gillam got off to a hot start with the Colorado Buffaloes, becoming the first freshman to ever lead CU in tackles, with 119. He set seven school records as a freshman and was honored as a first-team freshman All-American.

In Gillam’s sophomore year, he was selected as a team captain. Starting 10 games, he was second on the team in tackles with 79. In his first two years, it was pretty obvious he was one of the only stars on an otherwise weak defense despite his sophomore slump.

The linebacker suffered a knee injury just two games into the season in 2015. At the time it was heartbreaking for Buff fans. Since then, CU has used Rick Gamboa at the Mike linebacker position. He’s done an admirable job but he doesn’t bring the same electricity Gillam does.

This season, Gillam continues to rehab his knee and work his way back into game action. He had an impressive game against Oregon when he was credited with six tackles, including one third-down stop.

As he continues to build strength in his knee, it is expected that he’ll be seeing more snaps on the football field. “He’s real close, and he’s shown flashes of it,” MacIntyre said.

The Buffaloes seem to be set at the middle linebacker position with Gamboa and Kenneth Olugbode. Barring an injury, this gives MacIntyre and defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt a chance to be creative with ways to get Gillam into football games. He’s an impact player for the Buffaloes when healthy and if he still has the talent he flashed his freshman year, he could make this menacing defense even more hostile.