By TOM LEA
tlea@espnwisconsin.com

MADISON – The Madison Police have arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the beating of Wisconsin senior running back Montee Ball earlier this month, according to a recently updated police report.

Wendell J. Venerable (21), Deonte J. Wilson (21) and Robert A. Wilks (21) — all of Madison — were arrested Tuesday afternoon and tentatively charged with substantial battery-party to a crime.

The police department also learned of a prior altercation at a house party, which happened Friday, July 27th, just four nights before Ball was attacked by what witnesses described as five men.

Head coach Bret Bielema told Jim Rome on his radio show that two UW football players were involved with the first altercation and that they had been dealt with internally. He also said there were 15-20 football players present at the party at the time the fight broke out.

The police report regarding the initial incident does say Ball was present at said party, but that there was ‘no information that leads (police) to believe that he had any involvement in that particular event.’

Ball missed the first week of fall camp while recovering from a concussion and jaw contusion as a result of his assault.

Since then, however, Ball has been present in practice and is expected to play in UW’s season opening game against Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon.

Ball, a legitimate Heisman contender, hasn't been shy when talking about the incident that forced him to 'black out,' just seconds away from his University Avenue home. He has talked to reporters and shared his side of the story througout the course of the past three-plus weeks. 

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

-Ball rehashes attack
-Bad luck, bad timing for Ball
-Ball addresses team, talks incident
-UW players react to Ball incident
-Bielema stern with team in wake of Ball incident
-Bielema: 'You chose your own distractions'