Cal tailback Marshawn Lynch had a tough workout before practice even started Saturday. But only his hand was tired.

Lynch signed autographs for two hours Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium during Fan Appreciation Day.

Cal sports information director John Sudsbury said the crowd was estimated at about 5,000, the largest ever for the event, which was scheduled to end at noon. Almost an hour later, players were still signing autographs and posing for pictures.

"Lynch signed autographs nonstop," Sudsbury said. "Finally, we had to cut it off."

Lynch is accustomed to the attention. He starred as a quarterback and running back at Oakland (Calif.) Tech High School, where he was a high school All-American.

He made the transition to college football with ease, rushing for 628 yards and averaging 8.8 yards per carry as a freshman two years ago. Last year, he ranked in the top 10 nationally in both rushing and all-purpose yardage despite missing two games with injuries.

He capped his sophomore season by rushing for 195 yards and three touchdowns in Cal's Las Vegas Bowl victory over Brigham Young. He begins this season with his own Web site and a Heisman Trophy campaign.

"Marshawn has the potential to be one of the most talented players in the country," Cal coach Jeff Tedford told USA Today. "We have a responsibility to make that known. We have talked about the responsibility that comes along with that as far as being the so-called face of the program.

"He's not absolutely comfortable with that. He would prefer to keep the spotlight off himself."

Once Lynch gets the football, the spotlight is unavoidable. He's 5-foot-11, 217 pounds, with speed and athleticism.

"The main thing is when we block for him, we know never to stop until the whistle blows," Cal senior guard Erik Robertson said in a telephone interview Saturday. "Because the play doesn't end when you think it will end."

Lynch is also a skilled pass receiver. And he can throw the ball as well as catch it.

"I played quarterback for two years in high school," said Lynch, who took part in the teleconference after spending the morning with Cal fans. "(Passing) ain't nothing big."

Lynch, who says he can throw the ball 65 or 70 yards, passed for touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.

"There are people who have talent, and there are a certain number of people who have the gift," Cal running backs coach Ron Gould told The San Francisco Chronicle. "Marshawn has the gift. He can play wideout. He can play quarterback. He can do it all."

Cal's diverse offense will give Lynch plenty of opportunities. The Golden Bears added the spread option to their offensive repertoire in the spring but also will continue to use the West Coast offense.

"I like the offense," he said. "It gives us a chance to spread the ball out. They're getting the ball around to a lot of different players. I'm cool with it."

Although Tedford is famous for developing quarterbacks, Lynch isn't the first running back to flourish in Tedford's system.

J.J. Arrington rushed for a school-record 2,018 yards two years ago, and Tedford has had at least one 1,000-yard-plus rusher in each of his four seasons at Cal. Before Tedford arrived, only seven Cal players had rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

Lynch, who backed up Arrington in his first season, has plenty of depth behind him. Junior Justin Forsett, a former high school star in Arlington, Texas, rushed for 999 yards last season. Senior Marcus O'Keith averaged 11 yards per carry on 22 rushes last season.

Cal also expects great things from freshman James Montgomery, a Parade All-American. Montgomery has been impressive in preseason but might be redshirted because of the depth at tailback.