Former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon has settled a civil suit that stems from a 2014 incident in which he struck a female student in the face.
Mixon and Amelia Molitor issued a joint statement Friday announcing the agreement, which comes less than a week before the start of the NFL Draft, where Mixon is expected to be taken.
Joint statement from Joe Mixon/Mia Molitor. The two reached a settlement Friday on Molitor’s civil suit. pic.twitter.com/eD0SO3TziD
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) April 21, 2017
“I am happy we were able to bring the lawsuit to an end,” Molitor said in the statement. “Joe and I were able to meet privately, without any attorneys, and talk about our experiences since that night. I am encouraged that we will both be able to move forward from here with our lives. From our private discussions I am satisfied that we are going to put this behind us and work towards helping others who may have found themselves in similar circumstances. I greatly appreciate his apology and I think the feelings he expressed were sincere. We both could have handled things differently. I believe if we had a chance to go back to that moment in time, the situation would not have ended the way it did.”
The criminal charges for this case were resolved in October 2014 when Mixon entered an Alford plea. He was put on a probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. He was also suspended from the football team for the 2014 season.
Surveillance video of the incident can be viewed here, but be advised, the content of the video is graphic and viewer discretion is advised.
In 2015, Mixon returned and became one of the Sooners' best players. In two years in Oklahoma backfield, the California native amassed 2,027 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns to go with 894 receiving yards and nine scores through the air.
“I’m thankful Mia and I were able to talk privately,” Mixon said in the statement. “I was able to apologize to her one-to-one. The way I reacted that night, that’s not me. That’s not the way I was raised. I think she understands that. Talking together helps move us past what happened. I know I have to keep working to be a better person, and this is another step in that direction. I love working with kids, and I’m looking for more chances to do that kind of work. I want to lead a life that inspires them, and I hope I can lead by example from today forward.”
Mixon is expected to be selected in next week's NFL Draft, but his stock has fluctuated wildly since he announced his decision to leave OU on Jan. 5. In a mock draft released Friday, 247Sports projected Mixon at pick No. 41 to the Cincinnati Bengals. The first round of the draft is on April 27. Rounds two and three will continue on April 28 with the final four rounds taking place on April 29.
