Gillam out.

One player Els won’t work with this spring is Addison Gillam, a senior who was projected to start at inside linebacker. Gillam is taking what MacIntyre described as “a sabbatical” from the team this spring, and it’s unclear if he will return.

“He’s just taking some time off right now,” MacIntyre said, adding that Gillam is using the time to rest his knee.

Gillam missed most of the 2015 season with a knee injury that also kept him out of spring ball in 2016. He remained healthy throughout the 2016 season, however, and finished fifth on the team with 66 tackles while splitting time with Rick Gamboa.

With Gillam not involved this spring, Gamboa and Drew Lewis, both juniors, are running with the first unit.

Junior NJ Falo is also in the mix after bulking up and moving in from the outside linebacker spot he played last season. Falo said he is playing alongside redshirt freshman Akil Jones with the second team.