An unexpected move from the Indianapolis Colts is turning heads after the team reportedly added an unconventional name to bolster their tight end depth. Carson Towt, known for his time on the court with Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball, is now making a surprising transition to the gridiron. The move has sparked immediate curiosity among fans, as Towt has no recent football background at a competitive level — making this a rare crossover that doesn’t happen often at the professional level. Still, his size, athleticism, and physical presence have reportedly caught the attention of scouts looking for upside in unconventional places. As the Colts explore depth options, this signing raises questions about how serious the experiment could become. Is this simply a low-risk roster move — or something with real long-term potential? And there’s one detail about Towt’s athletic profile that could explain why the Colts are willing to take the chance.
The Colts made an interesting signing on St. Patrick’s Day.
The team announced Tuesday that it is bringing in undrafted Carson Towt with the intention of playing him at tight end after his time at Notre Dame.
Yet, he didn’t play for the football team — but for the basketball team.
On top of that, Towt never played football in high school either.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) dunks against the NC State Wolfpack during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
He served as a forward for the Fighting Irish men’s basketball squad this season and across 31 games, he averaged 5.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on 61 percent shooting.
Prior to joining Notre Dame, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Towt played for Northern Arizona from 2019-25, which included a null-and-void year in 2020 due to a transfer and a redshirt year due to an injury in 2023-24. While with Northern Arizona during the 2024-25 season, he set the Big Sky Conference single-season record with 423 total rebounds while also tallying 20 double-doubles.
He played his final college game during the ACC Tournament last week and with his eligibility up, Towt is turning to football.
Luckily for him, he won’t be alone with this type of background in Indianapolis.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) gets called for a foul on NC State Wolfpack guard Quadir Copeland (11) during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
Tight end Mo Alie-Cox shares a similar path. He played basketball for VCU and was later signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
In his eight seasons in the NFL, he has 1,550 yards on 127 receptions with 16 touchdowns.
Last season, he caught 13 passes out of 20 targets for 117 yards and one touchdown.
The 32-year-old re-signed with the Colts on Monday, with the contract making him the second-longest tenured member on the roster.
“You hear the story and you’re like, ‘Okay, maybe he’s in a different position,’” Towt said of Alie-Cox per ESPN. “No, he actually had to start from square one, too. So, I thought that was special and can relate to that.”
Towt will join Alie-Cox, Tyler Warren, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory and Sean McKeon in the tight end room.
