After spending the past month fighting with the Wisconsin Badgers over entering his name into the transfer portal, wide receiver Xavier Lucas has decommitted and is attending the University of Miami after signing a revenue-sharing agreement with the school.
This has the potential to be one of the most groundbreaking moves we've seen in college sports in terms of how the transfer portal works, and could lead to big changes in the future. This whole ordeal started when Xavier Lucas decided to transfer from Wisconsin, looking for a school closer to home as a wide receiver.
But Lucas has a problem, and it all revolves around a two-year agreement he signed with the school related to an upcoming revenue-sharing model, according to his attorney Darren Hytner Heitner said the model has not yet been approved by a judge.
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Therefore, the school felt as though a financial agreement had been entered into and would not enter his name into the transfer portal database.
If you're not familiar with how the portal works, once a player completes the appropriate documentation required for entry, the school is obligated to enter his or her name into the database. As we've seen over the past few years, the transfer portal continues to be one of the most talked about topics in all of college athletics.
Just this year, the Rules Committee decided to shorten the opening hours of the portal, starting on December 9 and continuing until December 24.
Players participating in the postseason will receive a five-day extension after the season, which will help those still participating in the College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) during the first quarter against South Dakota State at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, on Saturday, September 7, 2024. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Sentinel)
In the case of Xavier Lucas, he submitted the paperwork on time, but the school was adamant about not entering his name into the database because a revenue-sharing agreement was signed before Lucas attempted to enter his name into the portal. .
The contractual agreement in this dispute is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that gives the school all rights related to the player's name, image and likeness, meaning Wisconsin or any other school can use his name for those purpose, and Lucas will be rewarded.
OutKick spoke with Darren Heitner, a representative for Xavier Lucas, about the agreement.
“The MoU is conditional on the approval of house Hytner pointed to the settlement agreement (which has not yet received final approval) and Xavier's commitment to take classes until spring 2025 (he has since withdrawn from the institution). "Additionally, he attempted to enter his name into the transfer portal, but the school improperly denied him the right to do so, in violation of NCAA rules. Nonetheless, the institution has not made any payments to him and therefore he is not owed the Any reimbursement from the institution.”
Hytner also noted that Xavier Lucas' father is currently dealing with health issues, causing the former Badger to want to move closer to family.
In short, the school and Xavier Lucas entered into an agreement that is currently illegal because House v. NCAA The settlement has not yet been approved by a judge.
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is accompanied by a member of the training staff during the fourth quarter of a game against South Dakota State at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK)
One of the main takeaways from the whole ordeal is former Wisconsin receiver Xavier Lucas' decision not to go through the transfer portal on his way to Miami. After waiting for the school to enter his name into a database, Lucas simply left Wisconsin and is now enrolled at the University of Miami.
Yes, there have been other schools that signed players thinking revenue-sharing agreements would be approved by judges, but this is the first time a player and program have argued over the legality of a contract. discussed.
Now, we can see a huge change in how players decide to transfer outside of the actual portal cycle dates. Now, if a player wants to transfer, he must do so as a "graduate transfer". However, Xavier Lucas' decision not to use the portal and register at another institution outside the window sets a new precedent for how players might leave.
"NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from withdrawing from one institution, enrolling at a new institution and immediately competing," an NCAA spokesperson noted in a statement this evening.
Darren Hytner mentioned to Yahoo Sports that when Xavier Lucas tried to discuss the matter with Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, he tried to convince Lucas to stay.
Obviously, this is a huge development for athletes in all sports. As for whether Wisconsin will sue Xavier Lucas for his NIL rights while he's in Miami, attorney Darren Heitner told OutKick's Trey Wallace that would only further the case Damage the reputation of the school.
“The most short-sighted move the state of Wisconsin could make would be to file a lawsuit,” Hytner noted. “There is no place for this agency to stand and it will only further tarnish their reputation, which has already caused enough damage by their own misconduct.”
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As for the next step in Xavier Lucas' college career, he'll be putting all that behind him and contributing to the Miami Hurricanes.
However, it's a non-traditional way to get to Miami that could change the rules surrounding the transfer portal or, therefore, not actually require a time slot attached to the window itself.
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