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Montee Ball Beaten Up By 5 Men Near Wisconsin’s Campus, Seemingly For No Reason

University of Wisconsin starting running back and 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball was treated for head injuries at a local hospital after being attacked by five men early this morning just outside Wisconsin’s campus.

The attack was seemingly unprovoked, as Ball told police he didn’t know any of the five men who jumped him. According to witnesses, the group of men — who were black, ranged in height from 5-8 to 6-3, and ran the gamut in build from “small” to “heavy” — knocked Ball to the ground as he walked along the 500 block of University Avenue around 2:15 a.m. this morning. We don’t know if words were exchanged prior to the attack, as details are a bit scarce right now.

After being knocked down, the 5-11, 210-pound Ball was kicked repeatedly.

“It does not appear he knew his attackers and this is being investigated as an unprovoked assault,” said police spokesman Joel DeSpain in the release.

Ball was treated for his injuries and released. He’s now in the care of the UW sports medicine staff, and

I appreciate the support and thank you for the concerns.I will be okay! See you guys in September!#WiscONsin

— Montee Ball (@M_Ball28) August 1, 2012

Again, police are investigating the incident as an unprovoked attack. There’s always the possibility that Ball did know his attackers, and simply chose not to tell police. But for now, based on what we have in front of us, it looks like a group of men saw a campus-famous football player and decided, quite simply, to beat him up.

UPDATE: Or not. ESPN’s Joe Schad is reporting that Ball’s phone was taken, so the motive for the assault may have been robbery.

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