Three University of Wisconsin students have been charged in attack on Badgers' running back Montee Ball, the Associated Press is reporting.
Wendell Venerable, Robert Wilks and Deonte Wilson appeared in Dane County Circuit Court on Monday. A judge continued their signature bonds.
A criminal complaint says Ball was kicked and punched Aug. 1 as he walked on University Avenue in Madison. The complaint also says a friend interrupted the attack when she threw herself over Ball on the ground.
The complaint states eyewitnesses linked the three men to the attack by looking at surveillance video from a nearby apartment complex's security system.
Madison's WKOW-TV is reporting that witnesses told investigators they heard the attackers say they planned to target football players in retaliation for a previous fight at a party when Venerable was hurt and briefly hospitalized.
The three men are all 21 years old.
About Reid and Mike
Reid Cherner has been with USA TODAY since 1982 and written Game On! since March 2008.
He has covered everything from high schools to horse racing to the college and the pros. The only thing he likes more than his own voice is the sound of readers telling him when he's right and wrong.
Michael Hiestand has covered sports media and marketing for USA TODAY, tackling the sports biz ranging from what's behind mega-events such as the Olympics and Super Bowl to the sometimes-hidden numbers behind the sports world's bottom line.
