BERKELEY, Calif. - Cal running back Justin Forsett grew up in Arlington, Texas, so his affinity for the Dallas Cowboys is understandable. But you have to meet him to appreciate why Barry Sanders is his favorite player.

Forsett has the same compact build of the former Detroit Lions star. He's 5-foot-8, 204 pounds, and - after adding 10 pounds of muscle in the off-season - prepared to handle a bigger workload as Cal's featured running back.

"I'm the quickest, fastest and strongest I've ever been," said Forsett, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards the last two seasons as a backup to Marshawn Lynch, a first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the most recent NFL draft.

But he only wishes he was as flexible as Sanders.

"It looked like his hips were going out of place sometimes," said Forsett, who has studied videotape of Sanders. "I worked in the off-season to improve my flexibility."

Forsett isn't the only Golden Bear who improved himself in the off-season.

"This is the strongest and fastest team I've ever been around," he said. "We just had a whole lot of dedication in the weight room this off-season."

Big Knockout: Cal linebacker Zack Follett said the loss of tight end Craig Stevens was crucial in last year's defeat against UT.

Stevens, a two-time All-Pac-10 second-team selection, was knocked out on the opening kickoff and didn't return to the game.

"He's an anchor to that offense," Follett said. "He's a great blocker.

"I've been going against him every day (in preseason practice.) I think he and (left offensive tackle) Mike Gibson (another second-team, All-Pac-10 pick) are as good a tandem as there is in the country."

Block Party: Punt returner DeSean Jackson isn't the only Golden Bear who should concern UT on special teams. Safety Thomas DeCoud, who led Cal with 13 tackles against UT last season, has blocked six kicks in three years.

"I was usually returning kicks in high school," he said. "I was rarely rushing punts or kicks. It was like a new talent I found."

One of his secrets to success: "You can't be afraid of getting kicked."

A Lighter Heavyweight: Cal 6-foot-7 right offensive tackle Mike Tepper will begin this season stronger and lighter.

Tepper increased his strength in the off-season but lost 24 pounds, from 335 to 311. His diet was as simple as three words: "Eat less food."

"I used to be a big steak guy," he said. "Now, I'm more of a chicken guy. But I'm hungry all the time."

At 311, Tepper is still the biggest of Cal's five starting offensive linemen, who average 303 pounds.

No Huddle Defense: UT's emphasis on a no-huddle offense has gotten the Golden Bears' attention.

"We've tried to simulate that no-huddle tempo in practice," DeCoud said. "We will more than likely start in a defense that's suitable for a no-huddle offense."

DeCoud said Illinois ran a no-huddle offense against Cal two years ago, but the Golden Bears hadn't seen "a lot of it."

No-Stare Star: UT quarterback Erik Ainge looks as well as he throws, according to Cal linebacker Anthony Felder.

"Ainge is an awesome quarterback," Felder said. "He doesn't stare down his wide receivers at all, so you have to really know what you're doing on the defensive side of the ball."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

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