Robert Meachem knows that talent alone doesn’t get it done in big-time college football.

"In high school, I could catch it and just about spell my name on the field," Tennessee’s junior wide receiver said. "It’s different now."

Meachem said he is pleased with how he and his fellow receivers have prepared for the 2006 season, which begins Saturday when UT hosts California.

"I’m very pleased but we can’t stop here," he said. "We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got to take it one game at a time, ask God for all the help He can give us, believe in each other, our teammates and what our coaches say and the sky’s the limit."

Confidence has been a frequent talking point for UT’s receivers, especially after last season seemed devoid of any.

"We’re very confident," Meachem said. "We could be more confident. But as of right now, we’re having fun and enjoying the time that we have together."

UT’s receivers won’t be spending anytime with Tim Mixon. Cal’s star cornerback suffered a season-ending knee injury during fall camp.

"You really want to know where you stand," Meachem said, lamenting Mixon’s absence. "They consider him one of the best. By us getting to go against him, where would we be by going against him?

"It’s kind of disappointing."

Meachem, however, doesn’t think the Golden Bears are far less daunting without Mixon.

"They’re real good," Meachem said of Cal’s secondary. "They disguise their coverages well. They do a lot of things to mess up the quarterback’s train of thought, make him think they’re in one coverage and they’re in another.

"Sometimes they get an easy interception or a big play. The quarterback gets sacked a lot."

UT receivers coach Trooper Taylor complimented Cal’s secondary, saying it was extremely disciplined. That means the Golden Bears may be harder to fool and more apt to jump on any sort of tell a receiver might offer.

"You don’t want to have a certain move, a certain shoulder shake or raise up a little bit to give you’re route away," Meachem said, "because if you do, that corner — if he’s a good one like we’re about to play against — they’re going to break on it and more than likely go for six."

Cal or not, it’s obvious that Meachem and company are ready to test their mettle against a team that doesn’t wear orange.

"You want to go against somebody else to see where you’re at," Meachem said. "Cal’s going to come in very competitive. They’re going to bring their ‘A’ game. We’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game."