Joe Mixon reaches plea deal

Oklahoma freshman running back Joe Mixon reached a plea deal this week to avoid going to trial on the misdemeanor charge of acts resulting in gross injury.

Mixon entered an Alford plea, which allowed him to continue asserting his innocence. He was handed a one-year deferred sentence, 100 hours of community service and behavior counseling.

Mixon was accused of punching a female student July 25, breaking four bones in her face. After the incident, Mixon was suspended from football-related activities for one year.

Mixon's attorney, Kevin Finlay, released a statement shortly after the agreement became public.

"Today, Joe has made the decision that entering an Alford Plea to the misdemeanor and accepting the short period of probation was the best course of action at this point in his life," the statement read. "Joe does not want to be a further distraction to his family, friends, teammates, and the University of Oklahoma.

"Joe would like to apologize to everyone affected by this unfortunate chain of events. Joe looks forward to continuing towards his goal of becoming a successful student and athlete at the University of Oklahoma."