Alex Lott didn't care what anyone else told him as far back as his days at Plano High School.

As far as Lott was concerned, he was destined to follow in his father's footsteps and play major college football. Chasing that dream took the son of former Oklahoma quarterback Thomas Lott from Plano to Texas Lutheran University in Seguin and finally to Denton, where he is beginning to blossom with the Mean Green.

Lott caught seven passes for 69 yards in a loss to Florida International last week and will continue to play a key role for UNT, which will take on Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Fouts Field.

DRC/Gary Payne

North Texas wide receiver Alex Lott catches a pass against Florida International University defenders Peter Riley, left, Marshall McDuffie and Robert Mitchell on Saturday at Fouts Field.

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"It felt good to get that first game under my belt and show people what I can do, but a win is what you want and we didn't accomplish that," Lott said.

If UNT is to break out of what is now a six-game slide dating to last season, Lott will have to play a key role in getting the Mean Green's offense on track. UNT's second-leading receiver Sam Dibrell quit the team last week, further decimating a unit that has lost several key players. Rice transfer Evan Fentriss had to give up football before the season due to injury, freshman Forrest Rucker has not played this year because of a bad shoulder and Marcus King left the program before the season began with the intensions of transferring.

Those losses opened the door for Lott, a 5-9 sophomore who has continued to work his way up the Mean Green's depth chart and is now receiving more opportunities to contribute.

"Alex has been consistent since spring practice," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. "I knew that he would add to our team. He has been playing a lot and with the production that we lost when Sam quit the team, there were questions of where we would make it up. Alex has helped answer them."

UNT turned to Lott and senior Roderick Johnson and saw both respond in the Mean Green's loss to FIU. Johnson moved into Dibrell's spot and caught four passes for 49 yards, while Lott also saw more time in the Mean Green's rotation.

Seeing Alex Lott thrive was particularly rewarding for Thomas Lott, who has watched his son struggle to find opportunities to follow in his path at the Bowl Subdivision level. Thomas Lott was Oklahoma's starting quarterback from 1976-78 and earned All-Big Eight honors his final two seasons running the Sooners' triple-option offense.

"There is no question that I have enjoyed seeing Alex get an opportunity," Thomas Lott said. "I knew he was good enough to play on the [NCAA Bowl Subdivision level] if someone took a chance on him. Everyone wants receivers who are 6-1 or 6-2. He has a knack for getting to the ball, though, and has 4.5 speed [in the 40-yard dash]. Alex is a tweener, but he can play."

Alex Lott was a first-team All-District 8-5A selection as a senior in 2005 for a solid Plano team, but received hardly any attention from colleges.

Lott considered walking on at a major college, but instead decided to play for Texas Lutheran, a member of the Division III American Southwest Conference. It wasn't long before he began to have second thoughts that coincided with the arrival of Dodge at UNT before the 2007 season.

Lott's Plano team faced Dodge and Southlake Carroll in the playoffs.

"I went to TLU for a year and decided that was not what I wanted to do," Lott said. "I always had a dream to play [NCAA Bowl Subdivision] football. We played coach Dodge's team when I was in high school, he came from a winning program and I love the offense. I was going to go to Houston until he got the job. Once he did, I knew I was coming here."

Alex Lott is the second of the Thomas Lott's sons to play major college football. Thomas Lott III played at Rice, while the third son, Kris, is a highly regarded senior wide receiver at Plano. At 6-1, Kris Lott has the combination of size and talent that has helped him land scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Tulsa, UTEP and Minnesota.

Alex Lott thought briefly about following in his father's footsteps and walking on at Oklahoma, but thought UNT would be a better fit.

"I bled Sooner since I was a kid and always wanted to go to Oklahoma, but my dad never pressured me to go there," Alex Lott said. "He was always behind us whatever we did."

So far it appears as if Alex Lott's decision to transfer to UNT, where he can use his speed and natural football ability in the Mean Green's spread offense, will pay off.

Thomas Lott is now a high school coach and likes what he has seen from his son so far this season.

"You can't judge a player's heart by looking at him," Thomas Lott said. "He has the biggest heart in Texas and works hard."

Alex Lott said he is happy to have the opportunity to capitalize on that work ethic at UNT. Thomas Lott feels the same way.

"I would have loved for Alex to go to OU, but they know what they are looking for in terms of athletes," Thomas Lott said. "I have always told my sons to go somewhere the coaches want you. Coach Dodge showed a lot of interest when Alex left Texas Lutheran. … OU is where my heart is, but it doesn't matter to me where my sons go. They have to find their own way."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.