Former Wisconsin DB Xavier Lucas leaves school for Miami without entering the transfer portal in a game-changing move

NASHVILLE — In the middle of the NCAA’s annual convention, and in a possible precedent, a football player transfers to another institution without entering the transfer portal and after signing a revenue-sharing contract with his previous school.

Former Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas, whom UW denied entry to the portal after he requested a transfer, is leaving school for Miami, his attorney Darren Heitner told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday — a game-changing move that could have significant ramifications.

The situation is poised to set a precedent, both in the ability of schools to implement revenue-sharing agreements that depend on passage of House rules and, perhaps more importantly, in the ability players to be transferred at any time, even outside the portal windows or without entering. the portal at all.

Lucas, a freshman last season, dropped out of school at Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami. By not officially signing with Miami, he is likely circumventing NCAA transfer rules. He registered for the fall 2025 semester but is expected to reclassify to spring 2025,

This decision, for the moment, avoids a legal deposit. Heitner had planned to file a lawsuit against the NCAA and Wisconsin over antitrust allegations related to the situation, accusing Wisconsin of blatantly violating NCAA rules by not inserting Lucas’ name into the portal as it had requested and questioning the legality of the NCAA transfer portal.

Wisconsin officials have remained silent on the situation. However, the school is refusing to list Lucas in the portal because he signed a two-year revenue-sharing agreement last month before requesting a transfer.

The agreement, a model form issued by Big Ten, binds Lucas – and all players who sign – to that specific school and grants that school a player’s non-exclusive rights to use and market his name , his image and likeness. The agreement prohibits the player’s rights from being used by any other school while allowing him to sign outside marketing deals, according to those familiar with the model.

Breaking the agreement could trigger Wisconsin litigation against Lucas and/or Miami.

Lucas, who signed last year as a four-star high school prospect from the South Florida Rivals, played in 11 games with 18 tackles in 2024. He requested a transfer after learning at home over the holidays that his father had suffered a “serious, lifelong injury.” -a threatening illness,” according to Heitner. The school refused to follow NCAA protocol requiring institutions to comply with a player’s transfer request by submitting his name to the portal within two business days.

To transfer, a player must submit a transfer request in the designated transfer portal window for their sport. Access to the portal is necessary because it then allows schools to contact and communicate with players. Schools are prohibited from communicating with those not listed on the portal because they risk violating NCAA rules regarding tampering.

Lucas got stuck in “purgatory” because schools wouldn’t communicate with him to avoid violating these rules.

“NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from deregistering from one institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately,” an NCAA spokesperson said in a statement.

This is the first known public dispute between a player and a school over a revenue-sharing contract. Schools have only recently begun recruiting players for such contracts. Under the landmark NCAA and House antitrust settlement, schools are allowed to share millions in revenue with their athletes starting July 1, if the settlement is approved in April. Revenue sharing agreements are contingent on settlement approval – a key clause that could make the contract unenforceable.

This situation could set a precedent for future challenges to the validity of settlement-contingent revenue sharing contracts. Schools are signing players to multi-year contracts to secure talent for multiple seasons, stabilize the sport and limit athlete movement, currently at an all-time high.

According to Heitner, Lucas and his family, “in an act of desperation,” contacted Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell last week to plead for an explanation and reconsider the decision. The coach instead tried to convince Lucas to stay at UW.

NCAA transfer rules have been in the crosshairs for years.

The association, a voluntary membership group where school leaders set the rules, has made significant changes over the years to provide athletes with greater freedom of movement, some of them the result of decisions by justice.

For example, a judge in Ohio v. The NCAA has barred the NCAA from enforcing a long-standing rule that required athletes to sit out a year before playing at their new school.

This all takes place against the backdrop of possible upcoming portal changes. The American Football Coaches Association voted unanimously Tuesday to condense the portal into a single 10-day window in January. Currently there are two portals, in the fall and spring, which span 45 days. The recommendation will now be considered by several NCAA rules committees that have authority over policy making.