Carson Towt’s Remarkable Transition: Notre Dame Basketball to Colts Tight End

In a stunning turn of events, Carson Towt, a former forward for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball team, has decided to pivot his athletic career towards the NFL.

Just ten days after his last college basketball game, the 6-foot-7 athlete signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. He’s aiming to convert to the tight end position.

This abrupt transition is even more surprising given that Towt has never played football at the high school or college level. Still, Towt believes his physical style on the basketball court can translate to football, and he’s genuinely excited to see what he can do on the gridiron.

From the Hardwood to the Gridiron

Switching from basketball to football isn’t unheard of, but it’s definitely not an easy road. Carson Towt’s decision comes after a pretty long college basketball journey.

He redshirted his first season at Northern Arizona and then lost an entire year to injury during 2023-24. Even with these setbacks, Towt’s physical presence on the court grabbed the attention of NFL scouts, which led to his recent signing with the Colts.

Why Towt Chose Football

Towt’s always been aware of his physical gifts. He showed them off on the basketball floor, but he feels football might be a better fit for what he brings.

“I pride myself on dirty work and being physical,” Towt said. He thinks his rebounding and physical play are just more at home in football, and honestly, you can hear the confidence in his voice.

The Challenges Ahead

Transitioning to a new sport at the pro level? That’s a tall order. Towt’s got a lot to learn as he adapts to football’s demands.

The NFL is a league where even small changes in position can throw you off, let alone switching sports entirely. At least he’ll have Colts veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox as a resource—Alie-Cox pulled off a similar move from basketball to football back in 2017.

Success Stories and Cautionary Tales

There are some big names who’ve made the jump from basketball to football. Guys like Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham turned into standout NFL tight ends.

But for every Gates or Graham, there are others who struggled. The skills and mindset you need in football are just so different from basketball. Towt’s going to have to pick things up fast if he wants to stick around.

Eligibility and Draft Considerations

Towt’s long college basketball career might make some people wonder why he isn’t in the 2026 NFL Draft. The NFL only lets players be drafted the year after their college football eligibility ends.

Because of redshirting and the extra COVID year, Towt’s draft-eligible season actually happened while he was still playing basketball at Notre Dame. So, he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

Meeting NFL Teams

Towt went to the NFL Scouting Combine about three weeks ago—not to work out, but to meet teams and talk. It gave him a chance to chat about his potential and hear what NFL coaches expect from a player in his shoes.

Those meetings were pretty crucial. They helped Towt get a sense of the NFL landscape and what he’ll need to do to have any shot at making this wild transition work.

The Road Ahead

As Towt steps into this new chapter, he’s optimistic and determined. *It’s been quite the journey so far, and man, it’s just getting started,* he said.

His move from Notre Dame hoops to NFL football really shows off his resilience and adaptability. The road ahead? It’s not going to be easy, but Towt’s ready to use his physical gifts and soak up whatever he can from pros like Mo Alie-Cox.

For more details on Carson Towt’s remarkable journey, you can read the full article on the NFL website.