Defensive back Knowledge Timmons received probation until graduation and banishment from on-campus living at his Jan. 29 Judicial Affairs hearing, he said in an interview Saturday.
Timmons said the university had originally recommended he be expelled temporarily for his alleged involvement in an on-campus fight though the outcome of the hearing, at which some charges against him were dropped, was as good as he could have hoped for.
Timmons didn't specify which charges were dropped or the specifics of the lengthy hearing, but he said he needs to stay out of trouble, on and off campus, until graduation to comply with the university-imposed probation.
"I'm still in school and everything," Timmons said, "so everything kind of worked out well."
It is still unclear what impact the outcome of the hearing will have on Timmons' status on the football team.
"Hopefully soon [I'll be back on the team], but as of right now, I'm not," Timmons said, standing inside his off-campus apartment. "I'm not pressing the issue. Whenever Joe [Paterno] decides to let me back on the team, that's when he'll do it. That's his call."
Team spokesman Jeff Nelson could not be reached for comment.
"He has to do some community service, and he has to keep his grades up, and hopefully ... if he can stay out of trouble, coach Paterno will reinstate him back on the team at some point," said David Graybill, a former William Penn High School teacher who has mentored Timmons.
A few weeks ago, Paterno dismissed Timmons, defensive tackle Chris Baker and linebacker Navorro Bowman from the team because of charges stemming from an Oct. 7 HUB-Robeson Center fight. Police said those involved assaulted a man after a disagreement that began during a dance.
Baker and Bowman are still awaiting their Judicial Affairs hearings.
Timmons was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and defiant trespass in connection with the incident. He was also listed in the police report from the April 1 fight at the Meridian II, 646 E. College Ave., that police say involved up to five football players.
Timmons has been used mainly as a special-teams player and has played sparingly in three years at Penn State. He redshirted as a freshman in 2005.
He had 11 solo tackles in 2006 and last season finished with five tackles despite being suspended with Baker and Bowman for the final regular season game and the Alamo Bowl.
"I told him that he has to realize that he just dodged the bullet," Graybill said, "and if he soon doesn't get it, he's gonna ruin an opportunity -- a golden opportunity that a lot of kids don't get."
