With the college basketball season now fading into the rearview mirror for Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball, a move that once sounded like locker-room banter is suddenly very real: forward Carson Towt might be trading hardwood for hash marks and giving the NFL a shot. And no, this wasn’t a last-minute why not? decision. Back in February, Towt and his agent had already quietly teamed up with JB Sports for NFL representation, planting the seeds for a crossover that feels equal parts unexpected and oddly intriguing.

Here’s the problem, though: he has no football experience at any level. And he finished his seven-year college basketball career just ten days ago. If none of this was shocking enough, he now has an NFL contract with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent.

“I’ve never played football before,” Towt told reporters during the press conference, announcing his contract. “I think just an awareness of my physical gifts that were showcased on the basketball floor, and I think this sport honors those gifts: my frame, how I developed, how I developed as a player, my play style, and what I pride myself on.

“Rebounding. A couple of years ago, leading the country in rebounding, and this year leading the ACC in offensive rebounding. I pride myself on dirty work, rebounding, and being physical. So, I think football almost honors that a little bit better than basketball does. That’s why we’re here today.”

While Towt focused on basketball, his physical tools were undeniable. His 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame made him a force on the court. In 154 games, he averaged 9.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. How any of this will translate to success on the football field, however, will be worth watching.

The player will now try to make the Colts’ roster as a tight end. But it goes without saying that there will be tough competition. After bringing back both Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree in free agency, Indianapolis finds itself loaded at tight end heading into camp. Add in 2025 first-rounder Tyler Warren and 2023 fifth-round pick Will Mallory, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, and the room is suddenly crowded.

With Warren locking down the primary pass-catching role, Alie-Cox continuing to anchor as a blocking specialist, and Ogletree filling in as a rotational option, opportunities were scarce for Mallory, who managed to appear in just two games last season and was targeted only once. Plus, a season ago, the Colts broke camp with those same four tight ends securing spots on the 53-man roster. That precedent sets a tough path for Towt.

If he is going to stick beyond training camp, he’ll likely have to outperform one of Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, or Will Mallory to carve out a place for himself.

And that could ruin the dynamic he has with Alie-Cox, the very man who encouraged Towt to take the leap. The Colts’ decision to sign Towt comes after a similar project from the past, one that was a success: Alie-Cox’s crossover to football.

The Colts previously signed former VCU basketball player Alie-Cox. The player re-signed with them this week and is set to play his ninth season with them. This success could have encouraged the Colts to give Towt an opportunity. Towt, in fact, drew some inspiration from the veteran, someone he connected with in recent months while weighing this transition, especially considering Alie-Cox himself entered football without any prior playing experience.

And as strange as it may sound, the idea of college basketball players transitioning into NFL tight ends isn’t exactly new. Antonio Gates famously made that leap and went on to become a Hall of Famer. But for every success story, there are others who couldn’t quite make it. For example, former Coastal Carolina Chanticleers men’s basketball player Colin Granger, who briefly joined the Carolina Panthers only to be released last May. That was just a month after signing.

But coming back to Towt, the Saints signed him up right after a season with offensive difficulties. Sure, the Saints may not have been the worst team offensively, but they weren’t far off. They ended up tied with the Cleveland Browns for the second-highest number of offensive line combinations at 28, trailing only the Chargers, who led the league with 29. Beyond those teams, no one else even crossed the 25-combination mark.

Regardless, one can only hope that head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Mickey Loomis have a method to their madness when it comes to Towt.

All that said, there is a very important question about his crossover to football.

How was Carson Towt able to skip the 2026 NFL Draft?

According to the league’s eligibility rules, Towt could have been eligible for the 2023 Draft under this condition:

“The player did not play or otherwise participate in college football, and four League seasons have elapsed since the player first entered or first attended college.”

Because Towt never stepped onto a football field at any level, the clock quietly worked in the background. Four NFL seasons had already passed since he first enrolled at Northern Arizona in 2019. By the time 2023 rolled around, he met the league’s eligibility criteria but went undrafted, which ultimately left him in a unique position: free to sign with any team as a free agent.

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So, while he has signed a contract, a practice squad spot seems like Towt’s best bet. It could give him the chance to refine his football skills and play the sport he always wanted to explore, at a professional level. Yes, he always wanted to play football and basketball together. But COVID-19 and a season lost to injury derailed his journey.

Years after stepping away from football, he found himself drawn back in, this time with a clear vision of where he fit. That search led him to agents Jack Bechta and Jack Tabb, both uniquely equipped to understand his journey. Bechta’s client list is heavily stacked with tight ends. On the other hand, Tabb brought lived experience to the table, having once chased the same dream himself after making it all the way to training camp with the New Orleans Saints. However, a torn ACL abruptly ended his playing career.

Now, it will be interesting how Towt’s NFL trajectory turns out.