NORMAN — It’s been exactly one year since the narrative changed surrounding Joe Mixon, who in an instant went from ballyhooed five-star running back prospect to suspended persona non grata.
Mixon has worked his way back from that early-morning incident, when he punched a female OU student and broke four bones in her face. His coaches, teammates and fans vigorously defend his reinstatement, but in the post-Ray Rice era, they also understand that Mixon’s place on the team will continue to be debated, discussed and questioned.
“People are going to talk about it,” said senior center Ty Darlington.