Former Notre Dame Hoops Star Signs with Colts to Play Tight End

Carson Towt, a 24-year-old forward, makes the surprising switch from basketball to football after his college career ended.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:48am

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Just 10 days after playing his final college basketball game for Notre Dame, Carson Towt signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts to play tight end. Towt, who is 6-foot-7, never played football in high school or college, but believes his physical style and rebounding skills from basketball will translate well to the tight end position in the NFL.

Why it matters

The transition from basketball to tight end in the NFL is an extremely rare and difficult one, with only a few success stories like Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham. Towt's journey highlights the challenges of switching sports at the professional level, as well as the Colts' willingness to take a chance on an unconventional prospect.

The details

Towt, who is 24 years old, was eligible to be drafted this year because he redshirted his first season at Northern Arizona and had additional years of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He met with the Colts and spoke with veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who also made the transition from basketball to football. Towt said he's been considering the switch since the start of this past basketball season, as he believes football better suits his physical style of play.

  • On March 7, Towt played his final college basketball game for Notre Dame.
  • On March 17, Towt signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.

The players

Carson Towt

A 24-year-old former forward for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball team who has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts to play tight end, despite never having played football before.

Mo Alie-Cox

A veteran tight end for the Indianapolis Colts who also made the transition from basketball to football.

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What they’re saying

“Just an awareness of my physical gifts that were showcased on the basketball floor. I think this sport honors those gifts, and the things that got me to Notre Dame and carried me through my career, and the things I pride myself on, I think this sport honors those things...I pride myself on dirty work and rebounding and being physical. So I think football almost honors those a little bit better than basketball does.”

— Carson Towt (Indianapolis Colts)

What’s next

Towt will have to prove he can make the transition from basketball to football during the Colts' offseason program and training camp.

The takeaway

Towt's journey from college basketball to the NFL as a tight end is an incredibly rare and difficult one, but his physical attributes and willingness to embrace the challenge could make him an intriguing prospect for the Colts. If he can successfully make the switch, it would be a remarkable accomplishment.