Montee Ball’s Accused Attackers Charged With Substantial Battery

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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