Wisconsin senior running back Montee Ball was the victim of what police are calling an "unprovoked assault" early Wednesday in Madison, Wis.
Montee Ball was the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 after scoring 39 touchdowns and gaining 2,229 total yards.
Ball suffered head injuries after being attacked by five men near Wisconsin's campus around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday. Witnesses told police the men knocked Ball to the ground and began kicking him. Ball, a 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist, was taken to a hospital and released later Wednesday morning.
A team spokesman said Ball spent two hours in the hospital before he was released. Ball's father said his son's phone was stolen in the attack. It is not known if he can practice Monday when camp opens. Wisconsin opens the season Sept. 1 at home against Northern Iowa.
"My concern right now is for Montee's health and well-being," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said in a prepared statement. "Montee has been released from the hospital and is under the care and supervision of our sports medicine staff. We will continue to evaluate him as we approach the start of fall camp this weekend. I do expect Montee to make a full recovery."
According to an incident report, Ball didn't appear to know his attackers. The incident is listed only as a battery and is being investigated as an unprovoked assault.
In a post to his Twitter account Wednesday, Ball tried to assure his fans that he was OK.
"I appreciate the support and thank you for the concerns.I will be okay! See you guys in September! #WiscONsin," he wrote.
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Ball earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors last season after rushing for 1,923 yards and an NCAA-record 33 touchdowns on 307 carries. He also had six receiving touchdowns and his 39 overall TDs tied Barry Sanders' NCAA record. His 2,229 all-purpose yards were second in Wisconsin history to Ron Dayne's 2,242 yards in 1996.
He rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown in the Badgers' 45-38 loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
He decided days after the bowl game to return for his senior season after NFL evaluators told him he would have likely been a third-round pick.
ESPN wrote: