One NFL team is hoping it has found the next Antonio Gates by plucking a college basketball player and turning him into a tight end.
The Indianapolis Colts are signing former Notre Dame basketball player Carson Towt to a contract with the intention of developing him into a tight end, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The unusual move comes on the heels of the Fighting Irish concluding their season.
Colts signed Notre Dame basketball forward Carson Towt with the idea of converting him to tight end. pic.twitter.com/BXZCKbixBE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2026
The Colts’ move is unusual but not unprecedented. Antonio Gates became a Pro Football Hall of Famer at tight end after never having played college football. Towt’s Notre Dame bio lists him at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, so he definitely has the size to play the position. It goes without saying, however, that the 24-year-old will be a major project.
Towt played in 31 games for the Fighting Irish last season. He averaged 5.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in 26 minutes per game. He previously averaged a double-double while playing for Northern Arizona one year earlier.
In the past, we have seen March Madness stars get looks from NFL teams. Towt is unique in that he never had that platform, but the Colts undoubtedly saw him since he spent his senior season playing in Indiana.
