Jason Messing wasn't sure what he wanted to do.

He could keep toiling away as a scout-team walkon with the University of Tennessee.

He could quit football and concentrate on academics.

He could go elsewhere and try to start fresh.

Then he had a talk with former Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen.

It was a quick, innocent conversation that changed the direction of Messing's future.

"One day after practice, Jason Allen came up to me and said, 'If they don't give you a chance at UT, you should go someplace and play because you can play in any league,' " said Messing, a former Farragut High School star.

"If he hadn't said that I might not have come down here and gotten the opportunity I've gotten. It really gave me confidence that I could play anywhere."

That's how he found the University of North Alabama.

Messing got advice from UT coaches and did some Internet searches.

He wanted a school with football tradition. He wanted a school offering a major in Entertainment Media Productions.

It was a perfect fit for a wide receiver in search of a career as a music producer.

Messing has a chance to come home to East Tennessee as one of North Alabama's go-to receivers.

Division II's No. 3-ranked Lions open their season with a trip to Tusculum College (1-0) in Greeneville at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"I should have a pretty good crowd up there," Messing said. "From what I understand, my dad has been telling everybody in Knoxville about the game."

Word is spreading. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior had a breakout season in 2005.

He caught 43 passes for 852 yards and set a single-season school record with nine touchdown receptions.

"I'll tell you, he ended up making numerous big plays for us all season long," UNA coach Mark Hudspeth said. "He has great timing and great hands.

"Jason has an ability to time his jumps and he was a big threat for us on the outside on the long balls."

Tusculum found that out when Messing scored his first UNA touchdown on a 35-yard pass last season. The Lions went on to win 33-7 and Messing was on his way to a big season.

"That really helped my confidence," he said. "The year before, even though I played in every game, I didn't really have a chance to catch many balls.

"I was finally getting on the field and getting a chance to catch touchdowns. It calmed my nerves."

A new calmness helped Messing, but he credits his two years as a Tennessee walkon for much of his success.

"At UT, I was going against some of the best defensive backs in the country who are in the NFL now," Messing said. "When I first got there, I couldn't even get off the ball.

"But I got a lot of experience and learned different techniques."

Going up against guys the likes of Allen, Julian Battle, Gibril Wilson and Jabari Greer got Messing ready for life at UNA.

The Lions are a perennial Division II power with three national championships coming in the mid-1990s. They suffered a last-minute loss in the Division II semifinals last season.

"We were 26 seconds away from going to the national championship game last season," Messing said. "I want to win it this year."

Step one is at Tusculum.