VCU Professional Athletes

For most tight ends in the NFL, the path to the league runs through powerhouse college programs. For Mo Alie-Cox, it ran through VCU — a school better known for March Madness runs than producing professional football players. On Sunday, the former Ram reminded everyone that the route is possible.

Alie-Cox hauled in a touchdown catch for the Indianapolis Colts in their Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, giving VCU alumni a genuine moment to celebrate on an NFL Sunday. The Colts fell 26-20, but Alie-Cox's score was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise frustrating afternoon for Indianapolis.

The stat line was modest — one reception for one yard — but in football, touchdowns are touchdowns, and Alie-Cox has built his NFL career on exactly this kind of reliable production in critical moments. The former VCU basketball player-turned-tight end has long been one of the more compelling conversion stories in the league, and his continued role in Indianapolis's offense is a testament to the athletic tools he honed in Richmond.

Alie-Cox's journey is worth revisiting for any Rams fan who needs a reminder of what's possible. He went undrafted out of VCU after playing basketball — not football — for the Rams, then earned a roster spot with the Colts through sheer athleticism and relentless development. Nearly a decade later, he's still finding the end zone at the highest level of the sport.

For a VCU fanbase that watches its athletes thrive primarily on hardwood, Alie-Cox continues to serve as a singular symbol of what the program's athletes are capable of when given the opportunity to compete in a different arena entirely. Every touchdown he scores is, in its own way, a Rams highlight.

When Tyler Warren went down, Indianapolis didn't have to look far for a familiar face to fill the void — and VCU's most prominent NFL alumnus is suddenly at the center of the Colts' offensive plans.

Mo Alie-Cox, the 6-foot-5 tight end who took the long road from VCU basketball to NFL football, is set to absorb a significantly expanded role in Indianapolis after starting tight end Tyler Warren suffered an injury that has reshuffled the Colts' depth chart heading into the week of October 11.

Warren had been the unquestioned hub of the Colts' tight end operation. The second-year Penn State product was widely regarded as one of Indianapolis's premier playmakers alongside running back Jonathan Taylor, making his absence a genuine blow to an offense that leaned on him heavily through the early part of the season.

That's where Alie-Cox comes in.

In the Colts' October 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — a 22-34 defeat — Alie-Cox logged two receptions for 14 yards, a modest stat line that reflected a game still in transition. But the context matters more than the numbers: with Warren sidelined, Alie-Cox is no longer a complementary piece. He's now the top tight end on the depth chart for a team trying to keep its season afloat.

Alie-Cox's journey remains one of the more compelling origin stories in the league. He played basketball at VCU — not football — before converting to tight end and eventually earning a roster spot in the NFL through sheer athleticism and work ethic. He's spent the bulk of his career in Indianapolis, carving out a role as a reliable blocker and occasional receiving threat, but rarely has the moment been bigger than this.

The Colts' ability to replace Warren's production won't fall solely on Alie-Cox's shoulders — scheme adjustments and increased usage figures from Anthony Richardson's supporting cast will all factor in — but Alie-Cox's performance over the coming weeks will go a long way in determining how much Indianapolis can absorb the loss.

For VCU fans tracking their alumnus from afar, the next stretch of the Colts' schedule is unmistakably the most meaningful of Alie-Cox's career. The opportunity is real. Now comes the execution.