Former Evangel University All-American football player Omari Ali Zackery has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison without parole on Wednesday. Zackery and a second suspect attempted to rob TelComm Credit Union in Springfield on May 28, 2004. The other person was never identified.

Zackery pleaded guilty to the attempt in April of 2005, but still denies that he used a gun.

Zackery was a cornerback for EU and is credited with making the second-longest punt return in school history in a 2000 game.