Although former Nittany Lion football player Chris Bell is still awaiting his punishment in connection with an April altercation with a teammate, his status as a Norfolk State Spartan has not been affected.

Matt Michalec, Norfolk State University sports information director, said Monday that Bell will redshirt this season because he did not finish his spring semester at Penn State, but his status on the Norfolk State football team has not been affected by the case.

"He's in school, and he's practicing with the team and as of now he's done everything we have asked him to do at Norfolk State," Michalec said of Bell, who has since enrolled in the school in his native state of Virginia after being expelled from Penn State.

Centre County Judge Bradley Lunsford on Friday did not accept Bell's plea agreement of two years probation stemming from an April altercation with a teammate, saying he wants to investigate if Bell's use of a deadly weapon -- an 8-inch cooking knife -- merits stricter punishment.

"The judge is uncomfortable with the plea agreement for probation," Bell's attorney, Anthony DeBoef, said. "We've just been put in a situation where we need to do more research."

On April 7, Bell was arrested after police say he threatened fellow teammate Devon Still with a knife in the Pollock Dining Commons. Bell and Still were reportedly arguing over a cell phone cover, police said.

After the incident, Bell was kicked off the football team and subsequently expelled from the university.

Bell pleaded guilty to terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor, in July. Prosecutor Nathan Boob said the charge normally leads to probation, but if Lunsford finds Bell's use of the knife elevates the standards for his sentencing, the former Penn State wide receiver could face up to five years in prison. As it stands now, the plea deal is still intact, but if the deadly weapon enhancement is found to be applicable to the case, Bell could face jail time.

Head down and wearing a slate gray T-shirt, black pants and black tennis shoes, Bell entered the courtroom at 9:15 a.m. Friday with his family. Bell's parents made the trek from Georgia to be with Bell during sentencing, DeBoef said.

While Lunsford said he wanted to see if a deadly weapon enhancement was valid in the case, Bell did not speak.

Both sides will come together again on Sept. 25 to review the findings. However, both Boob and DeBoef said they expect a continuance on that date to leave more time for research.

Following the court proceedings, Bell led his family out of the courthouse silently, with his mother looking teary-eyed.

Both Bell and his family members denied comment.