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The\u00a0Indianapolis Colts\u00a0are once again betting on upside, athleticism, and a bit of projection\u2014signing former\u00a0University of Notre Dame\u00a0basketball forward\u00a0Carson Towt\u00a0to a contract as a tight end yesterday.<\/p>\n
At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, Towt certainly looks the part. But what makes this move fascinating\u2014and risky\u2014is the fact that he has\u00a0zero prior competitive football experience<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Towt spent seven seasons playing college basketball, most recently with Notre Dame after beginning his career at\u00a0Northern Arizona University. Known for his size, rebounding ability, and physical presence in the paint, Towt built a reputation as a grinder on the hardwood.<\/p>\n Now, he\u2019ll attempt one of the toughest transitions in professional sports: going from the basketball court to the NFL gridiron.<\/p>\n While that may sound far-fetched, the Colts are one of the few organizations that have successfully pulled this off before.<\/p>\n If this move feels familiar, it should.<\/p>\n The Colts struck gold when they converted\u00a0Mo Alie-Cox\u2014another former college basketball player\u2014into a productive NFL tight end. Alie-Cox played basketball at\u00a0Virginia Commonwealth University\u00a0and, like Towt, had no college football background.<\/p>\n Despite that, he developed into a reliable target and physical presence, using his size, body control, and basketball instincts to thrive at tight end. His ability to box out defenders, high-point the football, and create mismatches in the red zone made him a valuable piece of the Colts\u2019 offense.<\/p>\n That success story is likely a major reason why Indianapolis is willing to take a chance on Towt.<\/p>\n Of course, any conversation about basketball-to-football transitions begins with\u00a0Antonio Gates.<\/p>\n Gates famously played college basketball at\u00a0Kent State University\u00a0and never played college football. Yet he went on to become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, redefining the position with his elite footwork, hands, and ability to shield defenders\u2014skills rooted in his basketball background.<\/p>\n Gates proved that elite athletes with the right size and mentality can make the leap, even without traditional football experience.<\/p>\n The tight end position has become one of the most versatile in football. Teams are constantly searching for matchup nightmares\u2014players too big for defensive backs and too fast or agile for linebackers.<\/p>\n Basketball players often check those boxes:<\/p>\n Towt fits that mold perfectly on paper.<\/p>\n Still, this is far from a guaranteed success story.<\/p>\n Football requires far more than athleticism. Route running, blocking schemes, playbook knowledge, and physical durability all present steep learning curves\u2014especially for someone who has never played the sport at a competitive level.<\/p>\n But the Colts aren\u2019t expecting an immediate impact. This is a developmental move, one built on patience and potential.<\/p>\n If Towt can even come close to following the path of Mo Alie-Cox, this signing could quietly become one of the more intriguing stories of the offseason.<\/p>\n And if lightning strikes twice in Indianapolis, the Colts may have once again found a diamond in the rough\u2014this time, straight off the basketball court.<\/p>\n NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nf**************<\/span>@***<\/span>il.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nA Unique Path to the NFL<\/h2>\n
The Mo Alie-Cox Blueprint<\/h2>\n
Why Teams Keep Taking This Gamble<\/h2>\n
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Boom or Bust?<\/h2>\n
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