Colts sign Virginia Commonwealth basketball standout Mo Alie-Cox
Virginia Commonwealth defensive stalwart – basketball stalwart, that is – Mo Alie-Cox hasn’t played organized football in years. But when you’re 6-foot-6, 260 pounds and NFL teams think you might be able to transition to tight end, you give it a shot.
Two weeks after working out for teams in Richmond, Virginia, Alie-Cox signed a free-agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts, which was announced by the team on Friday.
In a conference call with reporters, Alie-Cox said the Seahawks, Chargers and Buccaneers also made him contract offers. But via Indianapolis Star reporter Stephen Holder, Alie-Cox decided on the Colts because he liked the vibe from players and coaching staff that he met.
Alie-Cox said Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano reminded him of Shaka Smart, his former coach at Virginia Commonwealth; he also had lunch with Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.
While some teams saw Alie-Cox as a possible defensive end in the league, the Colts apparently see him as a tight end; offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski told Alie-Cox he believes the 23-year old can be a solid receiving tight end.
Alie-Cox hasn’t played football since he was in ninth grade; he transferred schools before his sophomore year and his new high school, Middleburg Academy, didn’t offer the sport. Despite his long layoff from the sport, Alie-Cox-to-the-NFL has been floated for a while. Two years ago, he spoke with Cowboys tight end Jason Witten after a game, and Witten told Alie-Cox he believed he had the skill set to play the position in the league; at least one team, the Chiefs, sent a scout to a VCU hoops practice late last year.
