Will Montee Ball Be Ready For The Badgers 2012 Season?

By Badgers Brigham | Posted Tuesday, August 14

Montee Ball will have less than two weeks to prepare for the Badgers September opener against Northern Iowa. This short time span comes after an unwarranted attack on the star running-back last week left him with a concussion severe enough to keep him out of full-contact drills. The assault (which may be related to a prior fight,) occurred while Ball was walking home early in the morning. Police are investigating the incident, but have no suspects as of now.

Ball fell just short of an NCAA single-season touchdown record last season, and finished as one of the top-five finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Despite his accomplishments his junior year, NFL officials doubted that he would be picked any higher than the third round in the 2012 draft, and urged him to play his final year of eligibility.

Due to league rules, Ball is required to participate in at least three non-contact practices before joining his teammates in full pads. He did individual drills and a workout at the team's practice center on Friday, his first since the attack, and will continue to sit-out next week. Head coach Brett Bielema told reporters after the announcement that while he is confident in Ball's recovery; he is choosing to sideline the running-back for an extra seven days just-in-case. In the same meeting he also said that both he and Ball are sure that two weeks will be enough time to prepare for the beginning of the season.