Following the former NCAA coach Nick Saban’s sharp statement, college athletes are already under scrutiny due to the involvement of money and concerns about moral values. Now, this debate might be revived as the former Ohio State college football player Marcus Williamson has pleaded guilty to multiple accounts of robbery and can be sentenced up to 40 years in prison.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Williamson has been accused of stealing around $22,000 from various banks between March and April of 2024. He played for the Buckeyes as a defensive back between 2017 and 2021. The athlete was reportedly stealing from the banks after he used to hand over a note to the teller asking for 20, 50, or 100-dollar bills while carrying a gun. His method involved wearing latex gloves during all these thefts.
The drop scene for his crimes happened when he was arrested after leaving First Merchants Bank in Columbus, Ohio, on April 24, 2024. The officer who arrested him found him carrying the money after he left the bank. The authorities were already looking for the offender, and it happened to be Williamson, who was then immediately arrested.
Despite being a promising athlete, Marcus Williamson is now facing a likely long prison sentence
Even though Marcus Williamson has been declared guilty of the theft charges, he was a promising athlete at the college level, winning 4 of the 10 possible accolades. In his first year as a freshman, he became the Defensive MVP and also won the Defensive Player of the Year. Marcus also received the most hustle award in his sophomore year, and during his college career, he won two regional championships with his team.
Such a productive resume didn’t help him get into the league, and now he has pleaded guilty to nine counts of robbery, five of which were second-degree felonies and four of which were third-degree felonies. He was initially accused of 17 counts of robbery, multiple counts of felony theft, and one count of misdemeanor theft. The play is now sitting at the Franklin County Jail in Columbus ahead of his sentencing later in 2026, and can potentially serve 40 years in prison.
Marcus is not the only player involved in crimes like these. There have been other cases where players have found themselves in similar situations. One particular example is the North Dakota player William Frattalone, who was charged with stealing a designer bag containing items worth $270,000, including a $228,000 Rolex and $25,000 in limited-edition clothing. He was, however, sentenced to 5 to 7 years in prison.
With more of these cases emerging, questions arise about the need for stronger oversight at the college level. While colleges may not be responsible for athletes’ actions off-campus, enhanced moral and behavioral policies could help address this issue before it escalates.
Published: Mar 26, 2026 03:30 pm