The details surrounding the “unprovoked assault” on Wisconsin running back Montee Ball remain largely unknown, but three men allegedly connected to the attack have been arrested, per the Madison Police.
Wendell J. Venerable, Deonte J. Wilson and Robert A. Wilks, all 21 years old, were taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with substantial battery-party to a crime. No formal charges have been filed, though.
Ball suffered a concussion and a bruised jaw in the assault and missed the first week of preseason camp. A witness to the attack reported to police that he heard something along the lines of “one down, nine to go” by one of the assailants, possibly in reference to other UW football players.
Ball is back to full contact in practice and is ready to go for the Badgers’ season opener on Saturday against Northern Iowa.
The original police report stated Ball was attacked by five individuals earlier this month. Ball has stated multiple times he did not know the identities of the assailants or why he was attacked. Police have since looked into a possible precipitating event -- a late July fight at a party involving two members of the Wisconsin football team -- to see if there was a connection or motive.
Police have determined Ball was present at the location of the fight, but have no information indicating Ball was directly involved. What disciplinary action, if any, the two UW players involved in the July fight will face is unclear.
(Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)