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Late last month, Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Xavier Lucas entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal with all signs suggesting the Florida native would head home and join the Miami Hurricanes. But Lucas’s plans have been scuppered by a Badgers program that clearly doesn’t want to see him leave.
See, Lucas was a standout for Wisconsin as a true freshman. He appeared in all 12 games and recorded 18 tackles, one sack and one interception. So when he went to enter his name into the transfer portal, the Badgers responded with a resounding “no.”
“I still intend to transfer, but at the moment Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal,” he tweeted. “I’ve met all NCAA requirements of the transfer portal process. I’ve yet to be put into the transfer portal by Wisconsin which is impeding my ability to speak with schools.”
Fast forward three weeks and Lucas still has not entered the transfer portal according to Pete Nakos of On3Sports. He’s since retained the services of a lawyer. Meanwhile, prominent NIL lawyer Darren Heitner took to Twitter to speak on Lucas’ behalf.
“Let’s clear something up. Xavier Lucas owes Wisconsin NOTHING. The school is holding him hostage,” Heitner wrote. “It’s disgusting, illegal, and will be crushing for recruiting. Wisconsin can easily do the right thing and place him in the transfer portal. The silence on their end is deafening.”
Wisconsin fans allege that Lucas agreed to an NIL dead with the Badgers then decided to leave only after Miami’s collective illegally offered him a stronger financial package. While that would be considered tampering under the current rules, the NCAA currently lacks any real power to adjudicate such a thing.
Therefore, the Badgers have decided to take matters into their own hands. Whether or not they can legally do so remains to be seen. But it’ll be a very interesting case to follow moving forward.
