Colts do quick homework to take risk on rookie LB E.J. Speed

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts rookie linebacker E.J. Speed knew the questions would be coming as he met with teams leading up to the NFL draft.

Speed didn't just have to prove himself on the football field after coming from Tarleton State University, a NCAA Division II school in Stephenville, Texas. He also had to prove himself off it.

Speed, who had Division I scholarship offers from the likes of Colorado, Colorado State and Oklahoma State coming out of high school in Fort Worth, Texas, was suspended last season for a game at Tarleton State after he was arrested and charged with two counts of organized criminal activity, which was later determined to be credit card fraud. The charges…