The Indianapolis Colts are diving into March Madness with a bold move, signing Carson Towt, a former Notre Dame basketball standout, to play tight end. Just weeks ago, Towt was making waves on the basketball court, and now he's stepping into the gridiron with no prior football experience.
Towt's journey to Lucas Oil Stadium is impressive. He shone at Northern Arizona, earning second-team All-Big Sky honors in 2025 and leading the NCAA in rebounds.
After transferring to Notre Dame, he averaged 5.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Despite his basketball prowess, the 24-year-old is new to football, having never played in high school or college.
This transition isn't unheard of, especially with basketball players becoming tight ends. Towt has a mentor in his Colts locker room in Mo Alie-Cox, who made a similar leap from VCU basketball to the NFL in 2017. Other success stories include Hall of Famer Antonio Gates and Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham, both of whom found gridiron success after basketball.
Towt, speaking to reporters, shared that he had been considering this path since the start of his basketball season. "I've had the itch to play football pretty much all through college," he revealed. "It's perfect timing to segue into this transition."
Standing at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, Towt believes his physical attributes will serve him well. "I think this sport honors the gifts that got me to Notre Dame," he said.
"I pride myself on dirty work and rebounding, and being physical. Football almost honors those a little bit better than basketball does."
In Indianapolis, Towt joins a talented tight end group featuring second-year standout Tyler Warren and veteran Mo Alie-Cox. The roster also includes Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, and Sean McKeon, setting the stage for an exciting offseason competition.