University of Wisconsin junior running back Lance Smith split out wide to the right against press coverage from strong safety Aubrey Pleasant during spring practice on Tuesday morning.

Smith got a clean break off the line, then caught a deep pass from junior quarterback Dustin Sherer for a long gain.

The Badgers unveiled that formation in the Outback Bowl game, using Smith and another tailback on the field at the same time. Smith then split out at a receiver position to try and get a favorable matchup and utilize his speed.

"I've always been able to catch the ball," Smith said. "My high school coach (in Warren, Ohio) was always run first. He knew I had hands coming out of the backfield, so he used me sometimes, but most of the time it was run first."

It has been run first for Smith at UW, too, although it could be his hands, as much as his legs, that get him on the field with the crowded situation at tailback.

"Lance has got a lot of skills he can bring to the table," UW coach Bret Bielema said. "The thing I like about him, his first day (of spring practice) was a little rough. He wanted to get more reps.

"He came in and we had a nice discussion. I said, 'Talent doesn't get you on the field, production does.' I think he sees, certain plays are designed for him to get the football. That's what he probably gets even more excited about."

The bowl experiment didn't work too well because Smith suffered a slightly pulled hamstring the first day of practices in Tampa, Fla., and was only about 75 percent healthy for the game.

It was a frustrating end to a frustrating season for Smith, who was suspended from traveling to road games during the regular season after getting arrested following an altercation with his girlfriend last summer.

Starting tailback P.J. Hill already has dubbed this spring a fresh start for himself, and Smith feels the same way.

With Hill, sophomore Zach Brown and redshirt freshman John Clay at tailback, the competition for playing time is stiff.

"Especially with the packages and where they're going to use me, it's definitely a fresh start," Smith said. "I can really be able to take advantage of this and be a big deal on Saturdays."

Another hit at D-line

When sophomore defensive end Ricky Garner suffered a pulled hamstring early in practice, it left the Badgers with only seven healthy defensive linemen.

Garner's injury is not regarded as serious and he could return this week, Bielema said.

Senior defensive tackle Mike Newkirk underwent shoulder surgery prior to last week's spring break, but the prognosis is he will be back up to full speed eight weeks after the procedure.

"Mike's kind of a freak genetically," Bielema said. "He didn't have a lot of swelling. I saw him (Monday) for the first time (after surgery). He did some research on his rehab. They said a good, aggressive rehab is great for this surgery. So, he's all excited."

QB development

After spending the last two years sending in signals from the sidelines, Sherer is trying to thrust himself into a quarterback battle that remains wide open.

Bielema said he likely would start paring down some of the practice snaps for the five quarterbacks following the first scrimmage of spring Saturday.

"It's been a great learning curve for (Sherer)," Bielema said of the last two seasons. "It's very important to Dustin. There's a lot of talk, because Allan (Evridge) came in, the transfer quarterback; any time there's a new recruited quarterback (freshman Curt Phillips), he gets a lot of publicity.

"Dustin's been kind of waiting in the shadows. I thought going into spring ball, he might be a guy that makes a run."