A former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back could spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple robbery charges.
According to Bethany Bruner of the Columbus Dispatch, former Buckeyes DB Marcus Williamson is facing decades of prison time following a guilty plea on March 23 to nine counts of bank robbery. Those include five second-degree felonies, while the other four were third-degree felonies.
Based on court records, Williamson’s modus operandi involved handing a note to a bank teller, demanding money. He allegedly stole an estimated total of $22,000 from different bank robberies. He was arrested on April 24, 2024, after he was spotted leaving the First Merchants Bank at 5909 N. High St. in Columbus, Ohio.
The 27-year-old Williamson’s sentencing is scheduled for June 25, and he could face more than 40 years in prison, though probation remains a possibility, the Dispatch reported.
Williamson played for the Buckeyes from 2017 to 2021 and won four Big Ten titles with the program over that span. He appeared in 46 games in an Ohio State uniform and recorded 68 combined tackles with 5 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles.
Before enrolling at Ohio State, he had offers from several major football programs, including the Michigan Wolverines, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Tennessee Volunteers and Miami Hurricanes.
