[media-credit name=’GREGORY DIXON/Herald Photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]College football games are very much like movies. They have all-star casts, amazing reviews, stunning plotlines and, most importantly, cult followings. However, what is a movie without a trailer? During Wisconsin's contest against Indiana, a true freshman by the name of Lance Smith gave Badger fans a sneak peek that will keep them counting the days until the feature film.

Smith is a freshman recruited from Warren, Ohio. He has loved and played football from a very young age when he would play pickup games and watch pros like his childhood hero, Barry Sanders.

"When I was about three or four years old in the backyard, all the kids in the area would play football everyday," said Smith. "My family was surrounded by football."

Smith attended Howland High School, where he accumulated 4255 yards and ran in 38 touchdowns during his career there. Smith's résumé was impressive enough to catch the attention of the Badger coaching staff.

Smith had not had many opportunities to prove himself in the college arena until last weekend at Wisconsin's match-up against Indiana. Smith found his opportunity to strut his stuff, helping the Badgers build a commanding lead of 52-0, getting snaps early and often.

The highlight for Smith came after UW recovered a fumble in the third quarter, giving the team possession near the goal. Smith ran 4 yards for a touchdown to give Wisconsin its final points of the day and scored his first career touchdown, to boot. The experience definitely left a strong impression on the young running back.

"It felt real good," Smith said, smiling. "It makes me want to get into the end zone even more."

Even after having scored a touchdown as a true freshman, and taking over the No. 2 tailback spot behind star P.J. Hill, Smith does not want to put too much pressure on himself.

"I don't want to put too many goals on myself, but my career goal is to hopefully play at the next level someday," Smith stated, "I want to win a couple awards, hopefully get a Big Ten championship at this university or win a National Championship, but other than that I want to be successful and hope that the University of Wisconsin has success with me in producing one."

John Settle, Wisconsin's running back coach, is starting with even simpler goals for the freshman tailback.

"To get a degree," Settle chuckled. "You like to say rush for 1,000 yards and that type of thing, but that stuff will come if he stays with his academics."

Settle, however, enjoys coaching the young prospect.

"He keeps you on your toes as a coach, he's a freshman, a guy that we expect a lot out of so he's going to get a lot of opportunities to do things, so as a coach you've got to be prepared," Settle said. "You've got to watch him closely to be able to make corrections so that he knows what to do and how to do it."

Smith's coachability also contributes to a healthy coach-player relationship, as he is always quick to listen and take instruction from Settle.

"The thing that I find with him is he wants to please. He wants to do it right. He works on it until he gets it right, and as long as he keeps that attitude, we can work with him and he can become the player that he wants to be," Settle said.

Faith in Smith is not limited to Settle, by any means. Starting sophomore right tackle Eric Vanden Heuvel had positive comments about Smith.

"He is a great athlete," Vanden Heuvel said. "He's quick and he can make cuts really fast; he's a real young guy so he still has to see the cuts, but when he makes them he makes them fast."

Off the field, Smith is still motivated. He is thinking about majoring in criminal justice, but is still undecided and like all other freshman on campus, Smith is starting to feel the weight of his classes compounded by his college football career.

"At camp, you think this football stuff is hard," Smith said. "But then when you come here and you have to go to class with it, it's even harder, but it's all about your determination to get it done and knowing what you've got to do to be successful."

Smith's attitude says it all. He is about getting the job done and getting it done right at all costs. His technique may be a little rough around the edges, but his positive outlook and determination should overcome any obstacles, both physical and mental, put in his way. As the backup tailback to the Big Ten's top Freshman of the Year candidate, Smith might not see as many carries as he might like. However, when the score is up or Hill is down, keep an eye out for a special sneak preview of the future of the Badger running game: Lance Smith.