Jeffery Simmons, a five-star football recruit who in February signed with Mississippi State, apologized after a video surfaced Saturday reportedly showing him assaulting a woman.

The 1-minute, 48-second clip, obtained by Columbus, Miss., TV station WCBI, shows a man and a woman repeatedly striking another woman laying on the ground. Simmons took responsibility for the incident — which he said occurred Thursday — on his Facebook page later Saturday.

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"Where do I start? Where do I begin? Wow!," Simmons wrote in a since-deleted post. "Decisions, choices, and actions should always be carefully thought through when incidents occur. I take full responsibility for my actions that occurred on Thursday evening. My apology goes out to the Taylor Family and especially to Sophia Taylor.

"What was I thinking? Honestly, I wasn't thinking, all I could think was this is my family and I am supposed to defend my family. Many know my deceased nephews were my pride and joy, I do everything I do in honor of the life they never got the chance to live, and to listen to someone speak to terrible about them really caused me to make choices, decisions and act in a manor (sic) that was out of character for me. Is that an excuse?... NO!

"I truly hope that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me for my actions. I want to apologize to those that have supported me, those who look up to me and those who I consider family. I hope that each of you will accept my apology. I was raised in church, I've asked for forgiveness and I pray for God's continued guidance as I move forward in becoming a better person."

WCBI reported that the Macon Police Department is aware of the incident.

Simmons, 18, is listed as a 6-3, 277-pound defensive end from Noxubee County High School in Macon, Miss.