Vascular condition sends Gator LB Ball to hospital

A UF spokesman confirmed Tuesday night that freshman Neiron Ball "has been diagnosed with a congenital vascular condition and is currently being treated at Shands Hospital." No additional information, such as when he will be released or what impact the illness will have on his participation in spring practice, was available, although a tweet from teammate Matt Elam by way of Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post that doesn’t exactly make the situation sound optimal.

Earlier today, Florida safety Matt Elam sent out a Tweet asking for prayer for Ball and later described Ball’s ailment as, “He bust a blood vessel in his head. I’m here at the hospital with him now.”

Ball played in all 13 games as a freshman in 2010, and is expected to compete for a starting this year.