▁been ▁an ▁active ▁influence ▁on ▁Lad ell ▁over ▁the ▁years . ▁He ▁attended ▁Blue ▁Spr ings ▁High ▁School , ▁where ▁he ▁would ▁become ▁a ▁football ▁star . ▁He ▁was ▁team m ates ▁with ▁fellow ▁future ▁NFL ▁player ▁Br andon ▁Lloyd . ▁ ▁Bet ts , ▁who ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁spr inter ▁in ▁high ▁school , ▁gained ▁ 1 , 8 1 3 ▁yards ▁and ▁had ▁ 3 4 ▁touch down s ▁as ▁a ▁high ▁school ▁junior . ▁As ▁a ▁senior , ▁he ▁r ushed ▁for ▁ 2 , 1 8 3 ▁yards ▁and ▁ 3 2 ▁touch down s ▁while ▁playing ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁broken ▁right ▁hand . ▁Bet ts , ▁who ▁led ▁his ▁team ▁to ▁a ▁ 1 0 - 1 ▁record , ▁was ▁named ▁USA ▁Today ' s ▁Missouri ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁after ▁ear ning ▁first ▁team ▁all - state ▁and ▁all - metro ▁hon ors . ▁He ▁also ▁earned ▁the ▁Thomas ▁Sim one ▁Award , ▁which ▁goes ▁to ▁the ▁best ▁high ▁school ▁player ▁in ▁the ▁Kansas ▁City ▁area , ▁and ▁was ▁named ▁a ▁Par ade ▁and ▁Super P rep ▁All - American . ▁ ▁College ▁career ▁After ▁red sh ir ting ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Iowa , ▁Bet ts ▁played ▁in ▁all ▁ 1 1 ▁games ▁as ▁a ▁fresh man . ▁ ▁He ▁set ▁school ▁records ▁for ▁r ushing ▁yards ▁in ▁a ▁game ▁and ▁a ▁season ▁by ▁a ▁fresh man . ▁ ▁Bet ts ▁led ▁the ▁team ▁in ▁r ushing