After struggling with the Wisconsin Badgers for the past month to get his name into the transfer portal after signing an agreement with the school on revenue sharing, wide receiver Xavier Lucas has now withdrawn from the school and enrolled in Miami.
This has the makings of being one of the most innovative moves we’ve seen in college athletics when it comes to how the transfer portal works, and it could lead to significant changes in the future. This whole ordeal began when Xavier Lucas decided he wanted to transfer out of Wisconsin, looking to find a school closer to home, in the wide receiver’s eyes.
But there was a problem for Lucas, and it all centered on a two-year agreement he signed with the school that was tied to the upcoming revenue-sharing model that has yet to be approved by a judge, according to his attorney, Darren Heitner.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
So the school felt as if it had a financial agreement in place and would not enter his name into the transfer portal database.
If you are not familiar with how the portal works, the school is required to enter a player’s name into the database once they have completed the proper paperwork needed to enter. As we have seen in recent years, the transfer portal has continued to be one of the most talked about topics in all of college athletics.
Just this year, the rules committee decided to shorten the period of time in which the portal would be open, starting December 9 and ending December 24.
Players participating in the postseason receive a five-day extension once the season ends, which helped those still competing in the College Football Playoffs.
Xavier Lucas’ Lawyer Talks to OutKick’s Trey Wallace
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
In the case of Xavier Lucas, he had submitted his paperwork on time, but the school was adamant about not entering his name into the database, due to a revenue sharing agreement both parties signed before Lucas attempted to enter his name on the portal. .
The contractual agreement in the middle of this dispute was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that gives the school all rights related to that player’s name, image and likeness, meaning that Wisconsin, or any other school, could use its name for those purposes and Lucas would be paid in return.
OutKick spoke with Darren Heitner, who represents Xavier Lucas in this matter about the settlement.
“The memorandum of understanding is conditional on the approval of the Home agreement (which has not yet received final approval) and Xavier will attend classes no later than Spring 2025 (he has withdrawn from the Institution),” Heitner said. “In addition, he attempted to enter his name in the Portal of transfers, but the institution improperly denied him his right to do so, which is a violation of NCAA rules. However, the Institution has not paid him any money and therefore he does not owe any refund to the Institution.”
Heitner also noted that Xavier Lucas’ father is currently dealing with a health issue that led the former Badger to want to move closer to home.
In short, the school and Xavier Lucas reached an agreement that is currently not legal, because the House vs. NCAA The agreement has not been approved by a judge.
This sets a new precedent for the transfer portal in college athletics
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is accompanied by a member of the training staff during the fourth quarter of their game against South Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK)
One of the main takeaways from this entire ordeal is that former Wisconsin receiver Xavier Lucas decided not to go through the transfer portal on his way to Miami. After waiting for the school to enter his name into the database, Lucas simply left Wisconsin and has now enrolled at Miami.
Yes, there have been other schools that have signed agreements with players under the impression that the revenue-sharing agreement would be approved by a judge, but this issue of a player and a program fighting over the legality of a contract is the first to be raised. does publicly. discussed.
Now, we could see a monster shift in how players decide to transfer, outside of the actual portal period dates. Right now, if a player wanted to transfer, they would have to do so as a ‘Graduate Transfer’. But, with Xavier Lucas deciding not to use the portal and enroll at another institution outside the window, a new precedent is set for how players could leave.
“NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from withdrawing from one institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately,” an NCAA spokesperson said in a statement this afternoon.
Darren Heitner told Yahoo Sports that when Xavier Lucas made a last-ditch effort to discuss the matter with Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, he tried to convince Lucas to stay.
Obviously, this is a huge development for players of all sports. As for whether Wisconsin will sue Xavier Lucas for his NIL rights while he is in Miami, attorney Darren Heitner told OutKick’s Trey Wallace it would only further tarnish the school’s reputation.
“The most short-sighted action Wisconsin could take would be to file a lawsuit,” Heitner said. “The institution has no foothold and this will only further tarnish a reputation that they have already damaged enough with their own misdeeds.”
As for what’s next in Xavier Lucas’ college career, he will look to put this behind him and contribute to the Miami Hurricanes.
But it’s a non-traditional way to get to Miami that could change the rules surrounding the transfer portal or, therefore, the lack of need for a time period attached to the window itself.
