New Headline: "Rookie Carson Towson Lights Up Colts' Defensive Lamps!
Notre Dame's Carson Towt is set to become the second college basketball player to transition to pro football tight end under Colts GM Chris Ballard.
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is either excited for March Madness , looking to get some extra luck o' the Irish on St. Patrick's Day , or both. On March 17, the Colts signed Notre Dame men's basketball forward Carson Towt to a contract as an undrafted free agent.
Indianapolis wrote in its press release announcing the transaction that the intent is to have Towt – who was listed as 6-foot-7, 250 pounds – play tight end in the NFL. Towt's signing is reminiscent to the Colts' decision to sign former VCU basketball player Mo Alie-Cox in 2017. Alie-Cox never played college football, but he signed with Indianapolis to play tight end nine years ago.
That was a move also negotiated by Ballard, then a first-year GM with the Colts. NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast Unlike Alie-Cox, who had last played organized football his first year of high school before signing with the Colts, Towt did not play football in high school or college. The Fighting Irish big man joined Notre Dame prior to the 2025-26 season as a graduate transfer from Northern Arizona.
Towt started all 31 games for the Irish this year, averaging 9 rebounds and 5. 9 points per game with a 61% field goal percentage. Last year at Northern Arizona, Towt led the nation with 423 rebounds (12.