E.J. Speed
LB
#45
Experience: 8 years
Height: 6-4
Age: 31
Weight: 227 lbs
College: Tarleton State
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Biography
TRANSACTIONS: Originally selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft...Re-signed by the Colts on March 15, 2023...Signed by the Houston Texans on April 8, 2025
TRANSACTIONS: Originally selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft...Re-signed by the Colts on March 15, 2023...Signed by the Houston Texans on April 8, 2025
HONORS:
- Special Teams Player of the Week: Week 10, 2020; Week 10, 2021
CAR*EER:*
- Played in 92 games (32 starts) in his six-year career in the league with the Colts (2019-24) and has recorded 321 tackles (218 solo), 27 tackles for loss, 12 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, four quarterback hits and 2.0 sacks
- Was the highest drafted player in Tarleton State history
- Tied for ninth in the league and fifth in the AFC in special teams tackles (13) in 2021
2024 (Indianapolis 15/15):
- Started in every game he played in (15) for the first time in his career and totaled a career high 142 tackles (93 solo), seven tackles for loss, five passes defensed, one quarterback hit and an interception on the season
- Reeled in an interception for the first time in his career in Week 10 against the Bills (11/10)
2023 (Indianapolis 16/11):
- Notched 100 tackles (76 solo), 12 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles and 1.0 sacks in 16 games
- Had six solo tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack in the Week 2 contest (9/17)
- Notched a team-high eight tackles (six solo) and a career high three tackles for loss in Week 13 against the Titans (12/3)
2022 (Indianapolis 17/5):
- Played in every game and notched 45 tackles (32 solo), seven tackles for loss, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 1.0 sack
- Tied for the team high in tackles (eight) and had one pass defensed and one forced fumble in Week 18 (1/8)
2021 (Indianapolis 17/1):
- Recorded 18 tackles (14 solo), one forced fumble and one pass defensed in 17 games. He also notched 12 special teams tackles and two blocked punts returned for touchdowns
- Forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone in Week 2 (9/19)
- Earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors following his Week 10 performance against Jacksonville where he recovered a blocked punt and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown (11/14)
- Made his first career start in Week 16 and led the team in total tackles (nine) and solo tackles (eight) (12/25)
2020 (Indianapolis 15/0, 1/0):
- Played in 15 games and recorded nine special teams tackles and one blocked punt, the first blocked punt by a Colt since 2010
- Recorded a tackle on special teams in the team's sole postseason contest
- Earned his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his Week 10 performance where he blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown against the Titans (11/12)
2019 (Indianapolis 12/0):
- Played in 12 games his rookie season and totaled six tackles (three solo), one tackle for loss and one tackle on special teams
COLLEGE:
- Played in 35 games at Tarleton State (2015-18) and tallied 231 tackles (118 solo), 36.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions and three blocked kicks
- Earned Second Team All-LSC honors after appearing in 12 games in 2018 and recording 106 tackles (55 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one interception. He notched 17 tackles (nine solo), one interception and 0.5 tackles for loss against Minnesota State
- Played in five games in 2017 after dealing with injuries and finished the season with 41 tackles (24 solo), 8.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble and one blocked kick
- Was a Second Team All-LSC selection and appeared in 11 games and notched 68 tackles (35 solo), 13.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and one interception. He also recorded five forced fumbles, which led the nation in 2016
- Played in seven games in 2015 and notched 16 tackles (four solo) and 2.0 tackles for loss his first year
- Redshirted and converted to wide receiver as a true freshman and then converted to linebacker the following spring
PERSONAL:
- Attended North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas
- Ranked a two-start prospect by Rivals
- Was named First Team All-District after he passed for over 3,000 yards and rushed for 350 yards and one touchdown
- Majored in kinesiology at Tarleton State