The Wisconsin football staff scoured Florida in search of an amazing defensive back, and landed upon just the man they were looking for.
Cornerback Xavier Lucas, a Pompano Beach native and former four-star recruit, has been arguably the top underclassmen for Wisconsin early on. Lucas impressed during camp and earned playing time as a result, and in his first game against the Western Michigan Broncos, the defensive back made the most of his time. Lucas snagged an interception and recorded two tackles, and now may found a larger role in the defense due to his performance.
Wisconsin Football Staff Providing Expanded Role For CB Xavier Lucas
The Badgers played a tough game against the Western Michigan Broncos that was defined by a muffed punt on the Broncos part. Wisconsin played excellently on the defensive side, holding the Broncos to just 14-points, but the offensive side of the ball for Wisconsin was a different story. The offense struggled to consistently work their way down the field against the Broncos, which is concerning given the big challenge in the Alabama Crimson Tide looming.
Wisconsin needs to find someone who can step-up on the offensive side and provide value for the amount of time they spend on the field. The Wisconsin football staff has already found one such player on the defensive side, with true freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas providing quite a boost in the first game. Lucas played limited snaps, but recorded two tackles and an interception that would seal the game for the Badgers.
Lucas signed onto the Wisconsin football program as a four-star recruit, and proved just why he was ranked so in his first game. Lucas provided excellent coverage and made a toe-tap catch to secure the interception on quarterback Hayden Wolff. The cornerback immediately impressed the Wisconsin football staff on the training field, and now has impressed on the gridiron as well.
What Can Lucas Provide the Wisconsin Badgers Football Team With Moving Forward?
Moving forward, Lucas is going to become a bigger part of the defense as the Wisconsin staff continues to find ways to use the defensive back. Coach Luke Fickell stated after the game that he was impressed with the performance of Lucas, who only played limited snaps. With Lucas making such a difference in his limited play, a bigger role could be in the near future for the cornerback.
Lucas is a big, physical cornerback standing in at 6-feet-2-inches, and nearly 200-pounds once the pads are on. The cornerback uses his length to his advantage and generates pass defenses with his long arms. It is difficult to generate any sort of separation against Lucas because of both his size and his speed as well.
The Wisconsin Badgers football staff loved what they saw from Lucas, and likely will play him more against a lesser opponent in South Dakota. The Coyotes have a strong team, but are currently 21-point underdogs and should be an easy win for the Badgers.
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