Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook was arrested twice on domestic violence complaints before coming to OU, according to a story published Sunday by the Tulsa World.
Before his improbable rise from nowhere — before he won the Biletnikoff Award, became a finalist for college football’s most coveted trophy and constructed one of the best seasons in OU football history — Westbrook was twice arrested on family violence complaints, according to police reports and court documents obtained by the Tulsa World.
In 2012, Westbrook was accused of throwing the mother of two of his children to the ground. In 2013, Westbrook was accused of biting the same woman’s arm and punching her in the face with a closed fist.
Westbrook was being recruited by Oklahoma in 2014, when the Sooners suspended running back Joe Mixon for a season for punching a woman in the face, had linebacker Frank Shannon miss the season after losing a Title IX case and brought in wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who had been accused of violence against women while at the University of Missouri.
OU president David Boren, athletic director Joe Castiglione and coach Bob Stoops gave a joint statement to the Tulsa World.
“The university conducts independent background checks on every entering student-athlete,” the statement said. “While the university has declined to extend offers in other circumstances as a result of gathered information, nothing was reported in this case.”
After the story was published, Westbrook tweeted "Don't believe everything."
Don't believe everything!! Don't be so gullible
— Dede Westbrook (@DedeTHEGreat11) December 12, 2016
Westbrook had 1,465 receiving yards and caught 16 touchdowns this season for the Sooners, who won the Big 12 championship and finished the regular season ranked No. 7.
Read the rest of the story at the Tulsa World.
