Montee Ball's Accused Attackers Charged With Substantial Battery

Montee Ball's Attackers Charged With Substantial Battery

Three students were charged with substantial battery on Monday for their part in the alleged attack on Wisconsin Badgers senior RB Montee Ball.

Witnesses said the three men -- Wendell Venerable, Robert Wilks, and Deonte Wilson -- were in a group of five men that beat Ball early in the morning on Aug. 1, and left the star RB with a concussion. Ball was allegedly punched in the face and then repeatedly kicked while on the ground, knocking him unconscious. One witness to the fight said that one of the attackers claimed Ball had jumped him previously.

The three men were identified by surveillance video from a nearby apartment complex. A preliminary hearing date for the three men was set for Oct. 2, and the men remain free on signature bonds.

In three games for the Badgers this season, Ball has rushed the ball 84 times for 320 yards and two TDs.

For more on Wisconsin football, check out Bucky's 5th Quarter.

Montee Ball Attack: Police Arrest 3 Suspects

Madison police announced Tuesday evening that three students were arrested in connection with an attack on Wisconsin Badgers tailback Montee Ball, after the star runner was jumped by five people back on Aug. 1.

All three suspects are 21-year-olds who attend Wisconsin, as each is currently being charged with substantial battery-party to a crime after Ball suffered both a concussion and a bruised jaw during the attack. Although Ball has repeatedly stated that his attackers' actions at 2:30 a.m. that morning were unprovoked, police did uncover a previous incident in their findings that may be related to the situation.

Bell is expected to be just fine when the Badgers take the field this Saturday to open their season against Northern Iowa, but only after missing the majority of camp while tending to his injuries. Coming off one of the most impressive statistical seasons in college football history, you can bet the senior tailback is eager to get back on the field and put this messy situation behind him.

Stay with this StoryStream for more information on Montee Ball's attack, and head over to Bucky's 5th Quarter for more Wisconsin coverage.

Montee Ball Reiterates Unprovoked Nature Of Assault In Media Day Appearance

Montee Ball spoke to the media for the first time since suffering a concussion in an assault, and stressed that he was involved in no prior altercation before the incident.

"I had nothing to do with it at all but with the police investigation still going on there's not much I can say," Ball said. "But I can 100 percent tell you that I had nothing to do with that first fight, honestly."

Whatever caused five men to assault Ball, he's trying to put the incident in the past and move forward. He's currently in non-contact status at Wisconsin practices due to the concussion, but the senior running back hopes to be back in time for what could be a potential Heisman season. He added that he wasn't "getting rowdy" before the attack, and that he had already apologized to teammates for causing a distraction in the run-up to the season. The appearance was Ball's first in public since the August 1 attack.

Ball ran for 1923 yards and 33 touchdowns last year and will be a major part of Wisconsin's bid to repeat as Big Ten Champions.

For more on the Wisconsin Badgers, check out Bucky's Fifth Quarter.

Montee Ball Attack May Have Stemmed From Earlier Incident, Police Say

The attack on Montee Ball may have stemmed from an earlier incident involving Wisconsin football players, according to the Madison Police Department. The police report for the Ball incident, which occurred around 2 a.m. on August 1, was updated on Saturday morning with new information that police are now investigating. While police do not believe Ball was involved in the first incident, they also do not believe the attack on him was random.

The updated report:

The Madison Police Department, through information developed by detectives, have determined that there was a fight that occurred Friday night (July 27th-28th) which involved UW students, members of the UW football team, and other individuals that were not affiliated with the University of Wisconsin's Athletics Department. We have also determined that Montee Ball was present at the location of that fight, but we have no information that leads us to believe that he had any involvement in that particular event. There was one individual that did sustain an injury during the fight, and was subsequently treated at a local hospital for that injury. There is a potential for charges to be pursued, related to the investigated fight, but no charges have been filed. As this investigation is ongoing, specific details outlining the identities of either victims or involved parties are not being released.

The report goes on to state that while Ball was attacked on a public street, the incident does not fit the pattern of a string of recent random attacks in the city. The Madison Police Department will not comment further on the case as it pursues leads that may result in charges -- both for the attack on Ball and the previous fight that allegedly involved members of the Wisconsin football team.

For more on Badgers football, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

While we’re here, let’s watch some of the many fine college football videos from SB Nation’s YouTube channel:

Montee Ball Attack: Police Investigating Cause Of Incident

Wisconsin star running back Montee Ball was attacked early Wednesday, suffering a concussion and possibly missing practice time as a result. Coach Bret Bielema expects him to return to action just fine at some point soon.

What caused the alleged jumping by five men is undetermined, and police believe some sort of "precipitating event" led to the fracas. They aren't alleging that Ball did anything to precipitate, however. Based on one witness' account, the assault may have had something to do with other Wisconsin players in some way:

UW-Madison student Luke Will, who witnessed the attack, said he heard one of the attackers say, "something along the lines of ‘nine more football players to go.'"

"They said that two or three times and they just kept running," Will said, adding that the attackers were also uttering profanities. "But that line is what really stuck out to me."

In other claims as to what happened before the fight, TMZ reported the attack was provoked. Ball denied it, and was backed up by Madison police.

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For more on Badgers football, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

While we’re here, let’s watch some of the many fine college football videos from SB Nation’s YouTube channel:

Montee Ball Injury: Concussion For Wisconsin Star After Attack

Wisconsin Heisman hopeful Montee Ball suffered a concussion and facial injuries after allegedly being jumped by five men early Wednesday morning, the University of Wisconsin has announced. Earlier, coach Bret Bielema had said he expects Ball to make a full recovery, but the school says there's no timetable for his return to the team.

Per #Badgers Sports Medicine - Montee suffered concussion, facial injuries. No timetable on return

— Badger Football (@BadgerFootball) August 1, 2012

Ball, who turned down a likely high NFL Draft pick in order to return for his senior year, was a consensus All-American who tied Barry Sanders' record for touchdowns in a single season with 39. He posted 1,923 yards as a junior. His return boosted UW's expectations for the year, with sanctions throughout the rest of the division making the Badgers a clear favorite to win the Big Ten.

Follow @SBNationCFB

For more on Badgers football, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.

While we're here, let's watch some of the many fine college football videos from SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Wisconsin's Montee Ball Attacked By 5 Men, Released From Hospital

Five men allegedly jumped Wisconsin's Montee Ball Wednesday morning.

Follow @SBNationCFB

For more on Badgers football, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.