CHAMPAIGN - Rejus Benn and Vontae Davis live in constant competition.

Best friends from Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., they've landed together at the University of Illinois, ballyhooed prep football stars hopeful of leaving a legacy at Illinois on their way to the National Football League.

"We go at it every day," Benn said. "We challenge each other in the classroom, in the weight room, wherever. It's always a race between him and me. If we're walking down the street, it's who can walk the fastest.

"It's been like that since the 10th grade in high school."

Davis made the jump to Illinois first. He arrived last year, won a starting job at cornerback and was named to three freshman All-American teams.

Then Benn shunned offers from Florida State, Notre Dame and Maryland, picking Illinois in part because it was a chance to play with his best friend.

"He was a big factor in me coming here," Benn said. "We motivate each other. If I see him doing something he isn't supposed to be doing, I tell him. If he sees me sluggish or not running my route as fast as I can, he tells me. We get on each other about that."

What they don't get on each other about is their diets.

You see, Benn and Davis are at the head of the pack when it comes to nutritional eating and they're trying to win over teammates, steering them away from fried foods, red meat and unnecessary fat.

"It's kind of a Dunbar High School tradition," Davis said. "We take care of our bodies. We feel that's the only way we can perform to the best of our abilities."

Benn said he began to alter his diet when he realized he needed to withstand the physical beating he was taking in high school. "I thought it was a way to prepare my body," he said. "I tell guys, if you do it you will train better and last longer. You'll be leaner."

So Benn does not eat pizza, red meat, fried foods or pork. He goes for chicken or fish, baked or broiled. He loads up on fruits and vegetables. And he works on teammates to do the same.

Davis admits that he'll occasionally have a piece of lean steak, but he, too, avoids fats, most fried food and fast food.

"If I go to McDonald's it's for the Ceasar salad," Davis said.

It's hard to argue with Davis' results.

He has a 6-foot, 205-pound body that looks perfectly sculpted. Last year, his body fat dipped to 2.8 percent and strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez felt he had become too lean. "He thought it was one reason I was cramping," Davis said.

So responding to coach's orders, Davis has boosted his body fat to a still-lean total of about 3.5 percent. And his arms, reflecting his hours in the weight room, have developed into muscular pipes.

Davis and Benn say they didn't have to consult with the food service personnel to alter the training table. "Everything we want is there," Davis said.

"For snack foods, I'll eat some pretzels and some orange juice. And probably one peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My favorite is the fruits. I love the watermelon and pineapple and I like to make a little turkey sandwich. And I like fish."

And if the rest of the team is ordering pizza?

"We just stay away from it," Davis said. "But we're not going to stop them from enjoying it. I might even have a little piece of cheese pizza once in a while, but I stay away from the pepperoni."

So far, the linemen still like their steak, potatoes and pizza.

And tailback Rashard Mendenhall, who has bulked up 20 pounds to 220, just rolls his eyes when asked if he's on board with the Dunbar High School diet.

"No, I don't worry too much about that," he said. "I know Vontae eats healthy. I'm not really into that, man."

So what does Mendenhall eat?

"Whatever I come across."

Kittner with Staubach

Kurt Kittner is gearing up for his first season as analyst on Illini Radio Network football broadcasts.

The former Illinois quarterback is taking over for Jim Grabowski, who retired last season after more than 30 years on the job.

But Kittner also has a day job that's keeping him busy.

For the past six months, Kittner has been working for The Staubach Co., founded by Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach.

The Staubach Co. calls itself a "global real estate advisory firm" that maintains 60 offices and more than 1,400 employees throughout the United States. That includes two offices in the Chicago area, which is where Kittner is learning the ropes.

"Each year Roger has a touch football game for clients and he holds it at Soldier Field," Kittner said. "He's 65 years old but he can still throw the ball 50 yards. He said he'll give it up when he can't throw it 50 yards anymore."

Tickets going

Fewer than 2,000 tickets remain for Illinois' home game against Michigan on Oct. 20.

The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Single-game tickets can be purchased at www.fightingillini.com or by calling 1-866-Illini1.