Former Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Xavier Lucas is the subject of a tampering allegation levied by the Wisconsin Badgers against the Miami Hurricanes. The Badgers are accusing Miami of convincing the star freshman to leave Madison for the fun and sun in Coral Gables.
Controversial Xavier Lucas Transfer Was Tampering, Wisconsin Alleges
The saga began when Lucas attempted to enter the transfer portal, but the Wisconsin athletic department did not sign the documentation before the portal deadline. Accordingly, he hired a lawyer, Miami-based sports lawyer Darren Heitner, and simply withdrew from the Badgers and enrolled at Miami.
Lucas is from Fort Lauderdale and wanted to be closer to home. Reportedly, he approached coach Luke Fickell one last time to try and get his paperwork submitted and it is alleged that Fickell tried to convince the talented cornerback to stay in Madison.
Wisconsin releases a statement on Xavier Lucas, saying they have credible information that Miami tampered with him before he requested to enter the transfer portal in December.
The school says they entered into an agreement with Xavier on December 2nd, along with collective https://t.co/aLLPNHDq2F pic.twitter.com/P8Os9XcjBI
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) January 18, 2025
It is no secret Miami needs help at the cornerback position. They revamped their entire secondary through the transfer portal this winter. Lucas wanted to transfer to Miami, where he almost signed a National Letter of Intent coming out of American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale.
Wisconsin tried to prevent Lucas from entering the portal and now is looking to sue him for monetary damages. Wisconsin is taking the position Lucas entered into a two-year revenue-sharing agreement as part of his NIL package and they are thereby damaged as a result of him leaving the school. Heitner said no money was exchanged so any contract would fail for lack of consideration.
“The most short-sighted move for Wisconsin to make would be to sue,” Heitner said. “The institution doesn’t have a leg to stand on and it will only further tarnish a reputation that they have already done enough damage to by their own misdeeds.”
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Despite all of that, Wisconsin is coming after Lucas and the University of Miami.
“We have credible information indicating impermissible contact between Xavier and University of Miami football program personnel prior to Xavier’s request to enter the transfer portal,” Wisconsin noted. “Direct interference with another institution’s committed player and contractual interests is prohibited by NCAA tampering rules and the law.”
The Big Ten Conference issued a statement in support of Wisconsin’s position on Saturday evening.
“The Big Ten Conference stands in full support of the University of Wisconsin regarding the contractual agreement between student-athlete Xavier Lucas and the Wisconsin football program…In light of current laws and association rules, information suggesting tampering and contract interference in this case by the University of Miami is very troubling,” the statement noted.
“These actions undermine the efforts of its own conference as the ACC continues its collaboration with the other A4 conferences in developing a sustainable framework for college sports.”
Heitner told Outkick Lucas simply wanted to come home to be closer to his father who is experiencing health issues. He wanted to do it the right way, but Wisconsin pulled and end around and would not sign his transfer papers.
“He sought to enter his name into the Transfer Portal, but the Institution improperly denied his right to do so, which is a violation of NCAA rules,” Heitner said. “That notwithstanding, the Institution has not paid any monies to him and so he owes no reimbursement to the Institution.”
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