Top tackler responds well to surgery
Perhaps the most gratifying site for Miami football fans at the Media Day Red-and-White scrimmage Aug. 18 was Joey Hudson intercepting a pass.
More than anything else, that proves that the junior middle linebacker is back to full strength after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
"The surgery went unbelievably well," said the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder, who missed spring practice and wrapped up seven months of therapy in July, just in time for summer camp. "My shoulder feels better than ever."
Hudson, from Piqua, suffered the injury toward the middle of last year's 2-10 season. Playing with a brace on his shoulder, he still managed to lead the RedHawks with 97 tackles and 10 tackles for losses. The second-team All-Mid-American Conference pick also led the team and tied for second among the nation's linebackers with five interceptions.
"I could tackle, but I couldn't raise my arms above my shoulders," Hudson said.
Hudson, who enrolled at Miami in time to participate in spring practice before his true freshman season, was familiar with the recovery process after having similar surgery on his right shoulder in high school. He wasn't too concerned about missing spring practice.
"It would've been great, but we didn't put in too much new stuff," he said before compiling five tackles in the scrimmage and returning his interception 16 yards. "I was still able to go to practice and coach guys up."
Hudson's return solidifies the strongest unit of Miami's defense. Outside linebacker Clayton Mullins also started last season, and the 6-2, 231-pound fourth-year junior finished second on the team with 90 tackles and tied for the team lead with by recovering two fumbles.
"We feel really good about all three of our starters at linebacker," said head coach Shane Montgomery, throwing in true sophomore Caleb Bostic.
"(Fourth-year junior) Chris Shula (son of former Bengals coach Dave) is the fourth guy. One guy we were impressed with was (true freshman) Ryan Kennedy, but he's going to be out a couple weeks (knee). He's questionable for the Ball State game."
Senior cornerback Jerrid Gaines had 10 tackles to lead a defense that limited the rushing attack to 72 yards on 39 carries in the scrimmage.
"We're not going to slow down," Montgomery said. "We're going to have a very attacking defense."
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Season opener
The RedHawks open the season at 7 p.m. Thursday by jumping right into conference play with a game at Ball State. Miami lost to the West Division Cardinals 20-17 at Yager Stadium last season.
Perhaps the most gratifying site for Miami football fans at the Media Day Red-and-White scrimmage Aug. 18 was Joey Hudson intercepting a pass.
More than anything else, that proves that the junior middle linebacker is back to full strength after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
"The surgery went unbelievably well," said the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder, who missed spring practice and wrapped up seven months of therapy in July, just in time for summer camp. "My shoulder feels better than ever."
Hudson, from Piqua, suffered the injury toward the middle of last year's 2-10 season. Playing with a brace on his shoulder, he still managed to lead the RedHawks with 97 tackles and 10 tackles for losses. The second-team All-Mid-American Conference pick also led the team and tied for second among the nation's linebackers with five interceptions.
"I could tackle, but I couldn't raise my arms above my shoulders," Hudson said.
Hudson, who enrolled at Miami in time to participate in spring practice before his true freshman season, was familiar with the recovery process after having similar surgery on his right shoulder in high school. He wasn't too concerned about missing spring practice.
"It would've been great, but we didn't put in too much new stuff," he said before compiling five tackles in the scrimmage and returning his interception 16 yards. "I was still able to go to practice and coach guys up."
Hudson's return solidifies the strongest unit of Miami's defense. Outside linebacker Clayton Mullins also started last season, and the 6-2, 231-pound fourth-year junior finished second on the team with 90 tackles and tied for the team lead with by recovering two fumbles.
"We feel really good about all three of our starters at linebacker," said head coach Shane Montgomery, throwing in true sophomore Caleb Bostic.
"(Fourth-year junior) Chris Shula (son of former Bengals coach Dave) is the fourth guy. One guy we were impressed with was (true freshman) Ryan Kennedy, but he's going to be out a couple weeks (knee). He's questionable for the Ball State game."
Senior cornerback Jerrid Gaines had 10 tackles to lead a defense that limited the rushing attack to 72 yards on 39 carries in the scrimmage.
"We're not going to slow down," Montgomery said. "We're going to have a very attacking defense."
==
Season opener
The RedHawks open the season at 7 p.m. Thursday by jumping right into conference play with a game at Ball State. Miami lost to the West Division Cardinals 20-17 at Yager Stadium last season.
