Carson Towt left a major impression on Colts head coach Shane Steichen during rookie minicamp—even though the tight end originally built his name in basketball. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Towt’s body of work and coach’s praise set a clear offseason mis
The Colts haven’t made the playoffs for five straight seasons, and entering 2026 they’re searching for signs that this rebuild can move faster. At rookie minicamp, one of the loudest signals didn’t come from a traditional football path.
Carson Towt—signed by Indianapolis as an undrafted free agent—looked like a player with potential the franchise wants to bet on. The tight end didn’t even start his rise in football. He was a college basketball star at Northern Arizona, leading the nation in rebounds during the 2024-25 season. The Colts were drawn to his physical attributes and now want to see whether those traits can translate on the gridiron.
That learning curve is front and center. At 6-foot-8 and 250 lbs, Towt has the size to play tight end, and his athleticism showed on the court. But Steichen’s focus. right now. is on converting that raw athleticism into the NFL’s fundamentals—blocking and route running are the basics he has to earn before he’s ready to become a regular part of the offense.
Head coach Shane Steichen made the assessment during the minicamp period when Towt first got a taste of what it will take. There were no pads and no defense being played. but Steichen still pointed to what stood out in the way Towt moved and handled the job in front of him. “He’s done some good stuff. I know we’re routes on air and stuff right now. but he’s got some good movement skills. ” Steichen said. “He catches the ball well. So. it’ll be good to get him going and get him in pads and blocking and all of that stuff.”.
It’s a storyline that instantly brings a familiar Colts reference into view: the path from basketball to football has already worked in Indianapolis before. Fellow tight end Mo Allie-Cox signed with the Colts in 2017 after playing college basketball with VCU. Allie-Cox has since played in 125 games over eight seasons with the team and remains on the roster to this day.
Steichen isn’t shying away from the comparison either. The idea that Towt could become “the next Allie-Cox” is placing real expectations on his shoulders. but the head coach framed the moment as a coaching continuity opportunity. “Yeah I think Tommy Manning, our tight end coach, does a hell of a job with that. I believe Tommy was here with Mo (Alie-Cox) his first year. So. he’s been through that process – our tight end coach – and he did a hell of a job with Mo. ” Steichen said. “And now he’s back here coaching Mo and now he’s got another one in Carson (Towt) to do the same thing. So, we’re excited about Carson and his abilities.”.
There’s a reason the Colts can afford to develop Towt carefully. After using a first-round pick on him in 2025. Tyler Warren is expected to be the starting tight end for the foreseeable future. Allie-Cox sits behind him, while Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory fill out the depth chart. Towt won’t be forced into immediate pressure just because his story is unusual.
Instead, Indianapolis can keep focusing on growth throughout the offseason. If Week 1 comes and the team decides he’s not quite ready for game-day action. the Colts could stash him on the practice squad for further development. For now. he’s far from finished as a football player—because he’s still at the stage of learning how to block and run routes properly.
Still. the minicamp message was clear enough for Steichen to keep his attention on Towt through the rest of the offseason program. The more Towt starts to look like a football player. the more likely it becomes that Indianapolis can find the kind of tight end success story it already proved it can build—one extraordinary athletic start at a time.
Indianapolis Colts Carson Towt Shane Steichen rookie minicamp tight end Mo Alie-Cox Tyler Warren CJ Allen AJ Haulcy Drew Ogletree Will Mallory Tommy Manning
So he’s basically a basketball guy trying to catch footballs now? Interesting.
Undrafted and just “learning football” sounds like they’re desperate already lol. Like they can’t draft a tight end?
Idk man, if he’s 6’8 250 and he’s catching good then why are they acting like route running is some huge mystery? My cousin says size usually wins, so just play him.
I read this like 3 times and I’m still confused… minicamp no pads means nothing, right? But they’re making it sound like it’s a sign for the rebuild in 2026. Also Northern Arizona?? I thought that was like a smaller deal, so how did he even get noticed?