Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas leaves for Miami without entering the transfer portal

MADISON, Wis. — In an unusual move, former Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas withdrew from school and enrolled at Miami following a prolonged standoff with the Badgers during which they refused to bring him into the portal after he requested a transfer, Lucas’ lawyer said. Darren Heitner said Athletics Friday. Yahoo! It was Sports which was the first to report the news.

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 declined requests for comment on the situation.

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. “

A spokesperson for the Wisconsin athletic department and Rob Master, executive chairman of the Varsity Collective, declined to comment Friday. Lucas, his father and mother did not respond to requests for comment.

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 he is confident that Lucas, initially enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, will be able to reclassify for 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.

It’s unclear whether Wisconsin would attempt to pursue the issue, but Heitner said it would be ready if necessary.

“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)