A suspended University of Cincinnati football player who was an expected starter this season has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a drug robbery.

Alex Thomas, a 6-foot-1 junior cornerback who was considered by some to be an NFL prospect, pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated robbery.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Curt Hartman imposed an agreed-upon two-year sentence.

Thomas, 21, and a friend, 24-year-old Julien Holton, went to an off-campus apartment the afternoon of July 5, supposedly to buy marijuana. Thomas maintained he wasn’t aware that Holton intended to rob the alleged dealer. It was Holton who held a gun, surveillance video showed.

When the alleged dealer tried to run away, he was pushed to the floor, court documents say. Holton searched the man’s pockets and took a set of keys.

Thomas and Holton then ran to Thomas’ apartment, which was in the same Corryville building.

Thomas’ attorney, Steve Goodin, called it a tragic situation that wasn’t a typical robbery case.

“It’s somebody who had a bright future,” Goodin said. “Hopefully, he can recover, in some fashion.”

Thomas, who is from Hollywood, Florida, was suspended indefinitely after the incident. His status remains unchanged, a UC athletics department spokesman said.

UC players react to Spring game performance