Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts announced they have signed veteran defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and undrafted free agent tight end Carson Towt.
Both players represent opposite sides of the spectrum in experience, yet both are facing similar expectations upon signing. These are rather inconsequential signings as far as the grand scheme goes, but competition from depth pieces is always a positive.
Jerry Tillery
The seven-year veteran has become a journeyman depth piece who has provided solid spot-starts over the latter half of his career. Tillery was part of a historic first-round 2019 draft class that saw six different defensive tackles selected in the first 32 picks, with him serving as the final DT drafted 28th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Listed at 6’6”, 295 lbs, Tillery provides the aforementioned spot-start ability as a backup, starting in 20 of 51 games played over his last three seasons spent with the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs. He totaled 79 tackles, 11 QB Hits, 5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks during that stretch.
Carson Towt
If you’d never heard of Carson Towt, the football player, before today, do not fret, for not even Towt himself has ever put on the pads.
The former Notre Dame and Northern Arizona basketball product is listed at 6’8”, 250 lbs, and was a rebounding machine in the college ranks. Towt averaged 8.8 total rebounds across 154 games played in college, and now looks to use those talents for a seamless transition to NFL tight end — a position he’s never played in a sport he’s never played.
Regardless of the likelihood that Towt makes the team, it’s a fun story nonetheless. General manager Chris Ballard already went Victor Frankenstein on tight end Mo Alie-Cox and birthed an NFL mainstay. There’s enough precedent to bet on him unlocking another basketball player. Even if the project in question does go poorly, you can’t fault a man for chasing the low-risk, high-reward Antonio Gates route.
Although they have uphill battles in making the opening day roster, both Jerry Tillery and Carson Towt, two wildly different stories, have been given the opportunity. They both are finding their way as NFL players, one more than the other, but they do share a hunger to improve and belong, and that alone is grounds for a worthy competition.
See More:
