Gillanders running home with Redblacks
One of the best aspects of the CFL returning to Ottawa: the chance for local football talent to shine on home turf.
When the third-year Redblacks scooped former University of Ottawa Gee-Gees quarterback Brad Sinopoli as a free agent last season, all he did was win the CFL top Canadian award as a receiver, as well as being named Ontario athlete of the year.
In baseball parlance, this is called hitting a home run.
By Sinopoli and by the Redblacks.
Now a former teammate of Sinopoli’s with the Gee-Gees is getting a chance to shine with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Running back Brendan Gillanders, acquired from the Toronto Argos as a free agent in February, has a chance to do what no Canadian has yet accomplished with the Redblacks — establish himself as a running threat out of the backfield.
Head coach Rick Campbell believes it is doable. When he doesn’t play tailback, Gillanders, 25, will see time at fullback and on special teams.
“I’m a big believer in him as a tailback,” Campbell said after Tuesday’s training camp session.
“I think he’s the real deal. My best comparison of people I’ve been around in this league is Matt Walter, a kid who was No. 14 in Calgary (released by the Stampeders, Walter is now in Saskatchewan’s camp).
“They have a lot of the same skill set — very fast, very strong, tough runners. I think definitely (Gillanders) could be capable of playing tailback. The good news on him is he can play fullback, too.”
Barely used out of the backfield by the Argos the past two seasons (one carry, seven pass receptions), Gillanders is thrilled to be in Ottawa, where family and friends are quickly snapping up game tickets and Brendan’s No. 25 Redblacks jersey from local outlets.
“It’s great to be home and it’s great to be on a championship calibre team,” says the former Gee-Gees captain.
Of course, having his own personal cheering section is only part of the reason for this Orléans native to come home.
“I’m a competitive guy and I thought there would be a little bit more opportunity to get involved on the offensive side of the ball here,” says Gillanders, 5-11 and close to 215 pounds. In the CIS, where he rushed for 768 yards and nine touchdowns in 2013, Gillanders played at 203 pounds.
“Whatever role they have for me I’m going to embrace, whether it’s blocking out of the backfield, catching out of the backfield or getting a handoff as a true running back,” he says.
Last fall, William Powell established himself as a go-to American tailback.
At tailback, Gillanders would compete with Canadian Kienan Lafrance. At fullback, he could be paired with former Laval FB Patrick Lavoie, plucked from the Montreal Alouettes in the 2013 expansion draft.
Lavoie, 28, is more than a little excited at having added Canadian strength in the backfield with the acquisition of Gillanders.
“I don’t want to say something I’m going to regret, but I’m pretty sure we’re the best fullback duo in the league right now,” Lavoie says.
“I think Brendan is a great athlete. He runs fast, he’s got good hands, runs good routes. He’s more a running back/fullback, I’m more of a fullback/tight end/ receiver.”
Would Lavoie like more carries?
He’s had just one in two seasons, a lonely rush against the Tiger Cats in 2014.
“Absolutely not,” Lavoie deadpans. “I’ve got one carry in this league and it was for minus-four. After that, I’m done.” He remembers it well. “One of our O-linemen went the right wrong way,” Lavoie says. “And (defensive tackle) Ted Laurent had a free shot at me. Boom! He explodes on me.
“I thought, you know what, I’m going to catch the ball in the flat, catch it in the corner if you want, but carry? I’m going to leave it to the other guy.”
I tried to sell Lavoie on the prospect on gaining four yards on his next carry, erasing that career dash-four in rushing. He left the field thinking about it.
PUPPY LOVE
For Gillanders, life has been hectic since becoming a Redblack. He and his girlfriend, Sarah Keindal (an athletic therapist at the University of Ottawa), have set up a home in Riverside South and now have an eight-week-old golden retriever, Sullivan.
“We’re housebreaking him right now,” Gillanders says. “That will keep me busy this season.”
When he can, Gillanders relaxes by plugging in his guitar to play. LOUDLY. Mostly rock. He loves Pearl Jam and the Tragically Hip.
Gillanders has been playing guitar since he was eight or nine.
His advice to an older dude trying to learn?
“You need either a tone-deaf wife or a lot of time.”