North Dakota State University (NDSU) has suspended 21-year-old football player Travis Beck from the team for an indefinite period following a weekend brawl in a downtown Fargo Street that resulted in one hospitalization.

Beck, charged with a Class C felony of aggravated assault, was involved in an altercation early Sunday and is alleged to have struck and knocked down 24-year-old Matthew Aanenson unconscious.

The victim was immediately transported by ambulance to Sanford Medical Center with injuries to his head. Beck, a star linebacker on the two-time defending Division I championship team, was also punched and was bleeding from the mouth.

The felony assault charge slapped on a Bison football player is a first in head coach Craig Bohl's 10 year career at NDSU.

"Due to the serious nature of the charge of violence, Travis Beck will go through the university judicial process as a student, and as an athlete will be suspended indefinitely from team activities pending further information. Bison football has a zero tolerance for acts of violence," Bohl said.

Police learnt about the downtown clash around 2:00 a.m., Sunday and found Aanenson lying on the ground unconscious.

Several witnesses stated that Beck behaved aggressively in the fight that initially started in the Sports Bar on NP Avenue and continued outside. For his part, Beck said that Aanenson attempted 'to push or punch him.'

Police said another man, Mitchell Havig, also struck Beck. He said that he did so to prevent Beck from attacking Aanenson.

Fargo Deputy Police Chief Pat Claus said that Beck left the area before the police arrived. He is also charged for resisting an officer while courting arrest.

A judge at Cass County Court in Fargo has set bail amount at $5,000. If found guilty, Beck faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

This isn't the first time Beck has had issues with the police during his stay at North Dakota State. Last fall, he was fined $325 and ordered 40 hours of community service for underage drinking. As part of a plea agreement, a charge of resisting a police officer was dismissed.

Beck was chosen the most valuable player in the 2011 Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game.