Wisconsin alleges Miami had prohibited contact with CB Xavier Lucas

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin has alleged that the University of Miami football program had “unauthorized contact” with one of its former players who recently withdrew from the school and enrolled to Miami without entering the transfer portal after signing a name, image and likeness agreement with the Badgers.

In a statement released Saturday regarding the unusual situation surrounding former Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas, Wisconsin said it would “review the facts” in the case and “evaluate all options moving forward to determine the appropriate course of action.”

“Under the transfer provision used by Xavier last week, any contact between a student-athlete enrolled at an institution and the football program to which he transfers is prohibited by NCAA rules,” Wisconsin said . “We have credible information indicating prohibited contact between Xavier and personnel of the University of Miami football program prior to Xavier’s request to enter the transfer portal. Direct interference with engaged stakeholders and interests contracts of another institution is prohibited by the NCAA tampering rules and by law.

This statement comes a day after Lucas’ lawyer, Darren Heitner, said Athletics His client’s move from Wisconsin follows a prolonged standoff with the Badgers in which they refused to bring him into the portal after he requested a trade. Yahoo! Sports first reported this news on Friday.

The initial standoff stemmed from a signed name, image and likeness agreement that Lucas reached in December before returning home to Florida for the school break. Lucas then announced on his X account on December 19 that he would be entering the transfer portal. NCAA protocol requires schools to adhere to a player’s transfer request by submitting paperwork within two business days, but Lucas’ name never appeared in the portal.

Lucas said at the time that Wisconsin had denied his request for access to the portal.

Wisconsin, in its statement Saturday, said Lucas and the school’s athletic department entered into a “binding two-year NIL agreement” on Dec. 2, 2024, that included “substantial financial compensation” for Lucas. The program affirms that the agreement remains in force and enforceable.

“The Badger student-athletes who have signed these agreements expect Wisconsin Athletics to honor the terms. In turn, Wisconsin Athletics relies on representations from student-athletes to sign these agreements, asserting that they will do the same,” Wisconsin said. “A request for access to the transfer portal after entering into such an agreement is inconsistent with the representations and mutual understanding of the agreement and explains why a transfer portal request is not processed in these circumstances. “

Wisconsin also said Lucas “signed a separate agreement with the Varsity Collective.”

Rob Master, executive president of the collective, declined to comment Friday.

Because Lucas was never on the portal, he said schools were unable to communicate with him. The transfer portal window closed for Wisconsin players on December 28, with 23 scholarship players and two alternates entering the portal. Lucas, for his part, remained in the dark.

“I still plan to transfer, but at this time Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal,” Lucas posted Dec. 27 on X. “I have met all NCAA requirements regarding the transfer portal process I have not yet been put in the Wisconsin transfer portal, which is hindering my ability to speak with schools.

Today, he took matters into his own hands by enrolling in Miami.

On January 7, Lucas and his family hired Heitner to represent Lucas in his battle against Wisconsin. Heitner is also an NIL assistant professor at the University of Miami School of Law. He argued that Wisconsin was violating NCAA rules by not placing Lucas in the transfer portal, calling it an “illegal coercion.”

Heitner said he spoke with Wisconsin officials to try to negotiate a resolution, but said that ultimately would not be possible. Heitner said Lucas and his family contacted Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell last week about their desire to be closer to home, but were instead given reasons why. he should stay in Wisconsin. Heitner said he has since sent notice to Wisconsin to terminate the signed agreement.

“To this day, I still don’t really understand what Wisconsin believes or understands its position,” Heitner said. “I realized during the process that it didn’t even seem like they were fully aware of what they were counting on to not put the player in the portal. I don’t know what the connection or disconnection is between the school and the collective.

“It appears there has been a lot of misinformation and I am not sure the school and/or the Big Ten appreciate the countless loopholes in the agreement that was signed, which we do not believe is valid or binding. “

Heitner said Lucas signed a memorandum of understanding with Wisconsin subject to approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, which has not yet received final approval, and that he would take classes there at the latest in the spring of 2025. He also noted that Wisconsin did not pay Lucas. no money, so Lucas didn’t owe the school any repayments.
The school, however, described its agreement as “binding.” The Big Ten also released a statement Saturday supporting Wisconsin’s position.

“As student-athletes become active participants in revenue sharing, it is essential that agreed-upon obligations are respected, honored and enforced,” the conference said. “In light of existing laws and association rules, information suggesting tampering and contractual interference in this matter by the University of Miami is very troubling. These actions undermine its own conference’s efforts as the ACC continues to work with other A4 conferences to develop a sustainable framework for college sports. This situation is just the latest example of the critical need for substantial governance reform.

Lucas, his father and mother did not respond to requests for comment. Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

Lucas, a four-star prospect from Pompano Beach, Fla., signed with Wisconsin in December 2023 despite a late recruiting push from Miami. He appeared in 11 of Wisconsin’s 12 games as a freshman with one start and finished with 18 tackles, a sack and an interception. Lucas was in line for a potential starting role next season.

Lucas did not officially sign with the Miami football program and therefore was able to avoid NCAA transfer rules entirely in this rare situation. Heitner said Friday he was confident Lucas, originally enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, would be able to reclassify in the spring semester.

“The transfer portal is really not necessary for a player to change schools,” Heitner said. “Just unsubscribe and decide to register elsewhere. And if the next school accepts that student, then the portal will lose much of its usefulness.

Heitner said he would be willing if Wisconsin tried to pursue the issue.

“I never expected Wisconsin to maintain its completely irresponsible position,” Heitner said. “So under normal circumstances, I would say I’m confident they understand that the worst thing they could do for their reputation would be to try to make the situation worse. But they haven’t used logic since the beginning, so I don’t know what they’re going to do.”

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(Photo: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)