Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard gave an impromptu update with local media Wednesday in regards to the revelation that linebacker Bobby Okereke was the subject of a sexual assault investigation at Stanford in 2015.
Ballard told reporters that the Colts knew about the university’s investigation of Okereke and that the third-round pick informed them of it during the pre-draft process.
The New York Times ran a report in 2016 of the investigation and how Stanford handled the accusation.
Ballard also said the team did their own research into the investigation and because there was no disciplinary action taken by the school, in addition to no charges against Okereke, the Colts went ahead and made the pick on the second day of the draft.
The Colts also felt comfortable making the pick with Okereke given that his track record has been pristine since the investigation in 2015.
Ballard said Wednesday that the Colts did not interview the woman that accused Okereke of the sexual assault.
It isn’t clear what — if anything — will happen after this revelation surrounding Okereke, but it’s clear Ballard and the Colts knew of the situation and investigation before making the pick in the third round of April’s draft.
