Miami football continues to add depth towards its roster for the upcoming 2025 season.
But it didn’t come through the transfer portal — technically.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, former Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas has enrolled academically at Miami after the Badgers refused to enter the 6-foot-2 defensive back into the transfer portal. He has not officially signed with the Hurricanes, as he unenrolled from Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami for classes.
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Lucas entered the transfer portal at the start of December after the conclusion of his freshman season with the Badgers. He finished with 11 total tackles (one for a loss), three broken-up passes, an interception and half a sack in 11 games this season.
The former four-star recruit’s best game this season came on Nov. 23 on the road at Nebraska, where he finished with a career-high seven tackles against the Cornhuskers. Lucas was ranked as the No. 35 safety and No. 52 player in Florida in the 2023 recruiting class according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
“Thank you Wisconsin for everything!,” Lucas wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 7. “I’m officially in the transfer portal.”
However, Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell and Co. reportedly did not approve Lucas’ application within the first of the NCAA’s two windows — and still hasn’t, as first mentioned on X by Lucas on Dec. 27. Because of this, Lucas was not able to communicate with any programs and coaches — which would have been a violation of the NCAA’s transfer portal recruiting policies.
“I still intend to transfer, but at the moment Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal. I’ve met all NCAA requirements of the transfer portal process,” Lucas wrote on X on Dec. 27. “I’ve yet to be put into the transfer portal by Wisconsin which is impeding my ability to speak with schools.”
I still intend to transfer, but at the moment Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal. 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.
— Xavier Lucas (@XavierL_25) December 27, 2024
Citing Lucas’ attorney, Darren Heitner, Dellenger reported Lucas began the process to transfer from Wisconsin after learning while home over the holidays that his father suffered a “serious, life-threatening illness.” Lucas’ exit from the Badgers program comes after the cornerback signed a two-year revenue-sharing agreement last month before he requested his transfer.
“The agreement, a Big Ten-issued template form, binds Lucas — and all players who sign — to that specific school and grants that school a player’s non-exclusive rights to use and market their name, image and likeness,” Dellenger reported. “The agreement prohibits the player’s rights to be used by any other school while permitting him or her to sign outside marketing agreements, according to those familiar with the template.”
It remains unclear if Lucas and/or Miami will face any repercussions for breaking that agreement, per Dellenger.
Per Dellenger, Lucas and his family, “in an act of desperation,” reached out to Fickell last week to for an explanation and to reconsider the decision of approving his transfer portal application. Instead, Fickell reportedly attempted to persuade Lucas to remain in Madison with the Badgers.
“NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately,” an NCAA spokesperson told Yahoo Sports in a statement.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Report: Xavier Lucas enrolls at Miami without entering transfer portal
