Wisconsin alleges Miami tampered in Xavier Lucas' transfer
By: Pete Thamel - ESPN.comWisconsin and the Big Ten issued statements Saturday expressing disagreement with how the University of Miami has handled defensive back Xavier Lucas' expected transfer, which appears to be a test case for the enforceability of NIL contracts.
Lucas left the Badgers without officially entering the NCAA transfer portal, and his lawyer has said publicly that he'll transfer to Miami. Wisconsin said in its statement that Lucas entered into "a binding two-year NIL agreement" and a separate agreement with the school's collective.
Wisconsin wants that agreement upheld and said the school "will evaluate all options going forward to determine the appropriate course of action." The school called the case a "significant moment in the evolution of college athletics."
Wisconsin's statement also said the school has "credible information indicating impermissible contract between Xavier and the University of Miami," calling Lucas' situation an indictment of how college athletics currently operates. The Big Ten called the information suggesting "tampering and contract interference" by Miami "very troubling."
"The system cannot work without an operational model that both establishes and enforces agreed upon rules and regulations, and contractual terms that are binding on both institutions and student-athletes," Wisconsin said in the statement.
Lucas' attorney, Darren Heitner, called the agreement "conditioned on approval of the House settlement" on social media and accused Wisconsin of denying Lucas' right to enter his name in the NCAA transfer portal.
Wisconsin said in its statement: "Badger student-athletes who have signed these agreements expect Wisconsin Athletics to honor the terms. In turn, Wisconsin Athletics relies on the student-athlete representations in signing these agreements that they will do the same. A request to enter the transfer portal after entering into such an agreement is inconsistent with the representations and mutual understanding of the agreement and explains the reason for not processing a transfer portal request under these circumstances."
The Big Ten, in a statement released soon after Wisconsin's, said it is "critical that agreed-to obligations be respected, honored and enforced." The league also said that the situation highlights the need for "substantive governance reform" in college athletics.
"These actions [by Miami] 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," the Big Ten said in its statement.
Lucas just completed his freshman year at Wisconsin, where he emerged as a promising young player but not an established star. He had 12 tackles, two passes deflected and an interception for Wisconsin this season.
He is a native of Pompano Beach, Florida, which is located about 35 miles north of Miami.
