​Between now and training camp, we’ll be walking through the Indianapolis Colts’ full 90-man roster, offering a preview of each player. Up next is tight end Carson Towt, who wears No. 45. He stands 6-8 and weighs 250 pounds, entering the NFL as a 25-year-old rookie. Towt is coming from Notre Dame, where he played in the 2025 season, after spending time at Northern Arizona earlier in his athletic career.
Remarkably, Towt did not play college football at all. He transitioned to football only recently, having spent his athletic focus on basketball. The Athletic’s James Boyd notes that Towt believes the hard-nosed, “dirty work” he did on the basketball court can help ease his adjustment to football. At Notre Dame, in his lone college basketball season, he averaged 5.9 points per game, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
Towt signed with the Colts prior to the NFL draft, though he was not draft-eligible because his college football eligibility had already expired last year. The leap from college basketball to the NFL presents a significant learning curve for any rookie, and Towt’s path will likely be even steeper given the lack of collegiate football experience. That reality could temper his rookie ceiling, especially at a position where depth chart spots tend to be settled and where special teams and development often determine who makes the final roster.
With that in mind, the Colts may opt to keep Towt on the practice squad to allow him a redshirt year and time to develop as a football player. This move would leverage Towt’s notable size and athleticism, giving him an extended timeline to adapt to the tighter demands of the NFL. It’s a high-risk, high-reward proposition for a front office that has previously pursued multi-sport prospects with success.
The Colts have a track record under general manager Chris Ballard of bringing in athletes who excel in other sports and transitioning them to football. A notable example is Mo Alie-Cox, who later became a contributor in the tight end room. Towt’s addition represents another such swing for size, length, and athletic potential that could pay dividends down the line if he can translate his basketball fundamentals into the football field.
This story originated as Colts Wire’s roster preview focusing on Carson Towt’s transition from basketball to football, highlighting the potential role he could play and the challenges he may face as he begins his NFL career.