For much of this spring, the Wisconsin backfield has looked like a M.A.S.H. unit.

Starting running back P.J. Hill has missed the entirety of spring drills after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year. Starting fullback Bill Rentmeester is just now returning to action after missing the first few weeks of the season with mononucleosis. On top of all that, fullback Chris Pressley, who did not play and redshirted last season after injuring his knee in preseason camp last fall, has been using the spring to get himself back into his football groove.

All told, the only runner picking up where he left off last season is sophomore Lance Smith, and even he sprained an ankle earlier this spring. Consequently, Smith, who saw limited action last year in relief of Hill, has been getting almost all the snaps with the first-team offense.

So far, the Wisconsin coaching staff has been happy with Smith's progress.

"Lance Smith, the more reps he gets … he gets better every day," head coach Bret Bielema said. "Mentally, he's really sharpened up his game, but also he rolled his ankle pretty good the other day. He was out maybe five, six plays, got it taped up.

"Mental toughness, physical toughness — the game of football is a tough game, and he's able to battle through it."

Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst has tested Smith's toughness this spring, feeding the back with tons of repetitions to let Smith take full advantage of his opportunity as "the man," something he is comfortable with.

"I'm actually used to being 'the man,'" Smith said. "In high school, I was 'the man' all my life. Just coming here, it's college, you're here with so much talent, there're a lot of people who are going to be 'the man.'"

Aside from missing Hill, the running backs corps was further depleted by the transfers of Jerry Butler and Dion Foster. Their departures have led Smith to this point.

"Lance is smart enough to know this is a great opportunity to get a ton of reps," Chryst said. "I'd love to wear him out this spring because every rep he gets is really valuable."

The fact that Chryst has his eyes set on "wearing out" Smith is one of the major themes that has evolved over the course of the spring.

"[Chryst] and coach Settle have been doing a good job getting me the amount of reps, let me get a break, then coming back in so I am still looking fresh," Smith said. "I tell Coach Chryst, 'It's not like a video game. You can't turn fatigue off. You're going to get tired.' It's all about how quick you recover."

Pressley is enjoying his spring of paving the way for Smith.

"As far as being back, it's great," Pressley said. "As far as my progress [coming back from injury], every day it's a little bit sore … but I feel good. I'm learning a whole lot, sitting back and watching. I watched all last season. … Coming back it's going to be a slow progress, but it will be good."

With each having a year of starter experience under his belt, the duo of Pressley and Rentmeester should leave the Badger running backs in good hands.

"It's nice, me and Chris, we try to work together, tell each other what we see out there," Rentmeester said. "We push each other — get each other better to be the best fullbacks we can possibly be."

Practice notes:

Matt Shaughnessy did not practice because of an undisclosed injury but watched in sweats and will practice Thursday. … Allen Langford (ankle) sat out practice and will not return until after spring break. …Gabe Carmi took a majority of snaps with the first-team offense at left tackle. … Jason Chapman looks to be secure in his position as a starter on the interior defensive line, while Mike Newkirk and Nick Hayden roughly split snaps with the first team at the other spot.