Wisconsin Badgers football finds itself in the midst of controversy as the program is undergoing plenty of changes this transfer portal cycle. Fans have been wondering what’s been going on over in Madison with the mass exodus of players, and now it appears there might be a different type of controversy brewing. Star freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas has now taken to social media to state the team is blocking his transfer to another school.
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
A Promising Start for Xavier Lucas with the Wisconsin Badgers
Lucas, a former four-star recruit from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was a major recruiting win for the Badgers. He was ranked as the No. 372 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports. Lucas chose Wisconsin over huge programs like Miami and Florida State, making him a prized recruitment to the Badgers.
As a true freshman, Lucas played in 10 games for the Badgers. He allowed a catch rate of just 47.4% and a passer rating of 65.0 when targeted. He also tallied 18 total tackles, one sack, one interception, and two passes defended. Lucas quickly established himself as a rising star in Wisconsin’s defense and was projected to be a starter.
Lucas Announces Transfer Plans
On December 19, Lucas announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. His decision came as a bit of a surprise and definitely a blow to the Badgers, considering the number of players who have left this cycle. However, the story didn’t end there.
Thank you Wisconsin for everything! I’m officially in the transfer portal.
— Xavier Lucas (@XavierL_25) December 19, 2024
Lucas revealed on Friday that Wisconsin had not yet processed his paperwork, leaving him unable to officially enter the portal and thus impacting his ability to talk with other schools.
He shared his frustrations on social media and got plenty of run with it. At the time of this writing, the post had over two million views, with over 400 replies to the cornerback.
Who is to Blame?
All signs point to Lucas checking the boxes on his end to maintain his eligibility to enter the transfer portal. If that is the case, he would be eligible to file a request with the Wisconsin Badgers to allow him to enter the portal.
If he put his request in writing, the school is potentially obligated to put his name into the NCAA database, which would allow other schools to contact him. That’s where the Wisconsin Badgers may have fallen short.
While there isn’t anything that states a school is allowed to block entry into the transfer portal, there might be something that is holding up the process. This would likely be something found out if the Wisconsin Badgers respond publicly to Lucas’ claims.
Looking Ahead
For Lucas, the Badgers must get it together and put his name into the portal. He would likely have plenty of offers on the table, particularly after a stellar start to his college career and being a former four-star recruit.
For the Wisconsin Badgers? The fans are starting to wonder what really is going on over there in Madison. Between players leaving and confusion surrounding instances like this, it does make one wonder what is happening behind closed doors with head coach Luke Fickell..
In the short term, the Badgers are looking to solidify their roster for 2025, and if this is how they’re going to handle students entering the portal, it might be difficult to lure top talent.
