Former OSU Recruit Devon Thomas Gets 10 Years In Prison

We have had too many of these “did or didn’t he get prison” stories this week, but former OSU recruit (and enrollee) Devon Thomas was on the wrong end of that equation this week when he got sentenced to 10 years.

Thomas was imprisoned for a variety of things but primarily for his role in a pair of armed robberies. Here’s the Tulsa World on Thomas’ sentencing.

An affidavit indicates in the 2015 incident Thomas pointed a black pistol at another man and demanded, “Give me everything you have.” He then pulled the victim from the vehicle and beat him until he momentarily lost consciousness.

Tulsa District Judge James Caputo sentenced Thomas to 10 years in Department of Corrections custody for his role in both [armed robbery] cases. Caputo also ordered Thomas to be under post-imprisonment supervision for nine months to one year after his release, court documents indicate.

Thomas’ story is sad if not familiar. It was nearly the way of Prentiss Elliott (now thriving for a semi-pro Oklahoma football team!) and/or Herschel Sims (graduated from Abilene Christian and appears to be coaching). It’s sad and destructive and the underbelly of the machine that is college athletics. It’s a kingmaker, to be sure, but these are the stories that get lost and forgotten about.

Hopefully Thomas can reconcile his life to society over the next decade and eventually become a productive member of the Oklahoma culture.