DaytonDailyNews.com

This is the third in a series of diaries from Miami University's football training camp. Joey Hudson is a senior middle linebacker from Piqua.

Once we put on shoulder pads, we defensive players call it 'hit day'. When the full pads go on, not a whole lot changes for us, but I imagine the offensive guys will feel more protected.

It's hard to believe that I'm a senior. The seniors always get up and talk to the rest of the team about how things fly by. And even being here almost year round since December of 2004, it's crazy that this is my final year.

The defense is really optimistic about 2008. We felt like we finished strong last year, though maybe not the MAC championship game against Central Michigan.

Being an older group and having nearly all of our starters coming back, we just feel confident that we can lead the team and holds our opponents down to 10 to 14 points a game. And now, we're less than three weeks away from the opener against Vanderbilt. I can't wait. It's going to be exciting.