Florida LB Neiron Ball (vascular condition) cleared for football activities
After missing all of 2011 due to a hereditary congenital vascular condition, Florida linebacker Neiron Ball has been cleared to return to the Gators for 2012.
The 6-foot-2 linebacker was hospitalized in Feb. 2011 when a blood vessel burst in his brain. Ball was treated for arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and coach Will Muschamp said in Feb. 2012 his status for the upcoming season was not determined.
On March 2, Ball posted on Facebook that he had been cleared to play. The news was finally confirmed by the school on Friday, via their official Twitter account.
"Neiron Ball has passed his final medical checkup and has been fully cleared to participate in football activities. Ball was (cont) #Gators
— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) June 15, 2012
diagnosed in Feb. 2011 with a hereditary congenital vascular condition. It was a non-football related medical issue." #Gators
— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) June 15, 2012
Ball will rejoin the team as a redshirt sophomore, adding some talent and depth to the Gators' linebacker unit. The Jackson, Ga., native saw action in all 13 games as a freshman in 2010, recording 10 tackles -- mostly in kickoff coverage.
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