Wisconsin Badgers football has found itself at the center of controversy as the program undergoes many changes this transfer portal cycle. Fans have been wondering what’s going on in Madison with the mass exodus of players, and now it seems like a different kind of controversy may be brewing. Star freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas took to social media to say the team was blocking his transfer to another school.
I still intend to transfer, but at this time Wisconsin refuses to let me into the transfer portal. I have completed all NCAA requirements for the transfer portal process. I haven’t been connected to the Wisconsin transfer portal yet, which makes it challenging for me to contact 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 the Badgers’ main recruiting success. He was ranked No. 372 in the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports. Lucas chose Wisconsin over massive programs like Miami and Florida State, making him a valued recruit for the Badgers.
As a true freshman, Lucas played in 10 games for the Badgers. He allowed just 47.4% catches and a passer rating of 65.0 when targeted. He also totaled 18 tackles, one sack, one interception and two passes defended. Lucas quickly established himself as a rising star on 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 was a bit of a surprise and definitely a blow to the Badgers considering the number of players who have missed this series. However, the story did not end there.
Thank you Wisconsin for everything! I’m officially in the transfer portal.
— Xavier Lucas (@XavierL_25) December 19, 2024
On Friday, Lucas revealed that Wisconsin had not yet processed all the paperwork, preventing him from officially entering the portal and impacting his ability to communicate with other schools.
He shared his frustrations on social media and was very concerned about it. As of this writing, the post has had over two million views and over 400 replies per corner.
Who is to blame?
Everything indicates that Lucas was checking the boxes on his end to maintain his eligibility to enter the transfer portal. In such a case, he would be eligible to apply to the Wisconsin Badgers for permission to enter the portal.
If he submits a written request, the school would potentially be required to put his name in the NCAA database, which would allow other schools to contact him. This is where the Wisconsin Badgers could have failed.
While there is nothing that says a school can block access to the transfer portal, there may be something that is holding up the process. This will likely be proven if the Wisconsin Badgers publicly respond to Lucas’ claims.
Looking to the future
In Lucas’ case, the Badgers need to get their act together and put his name in the portal. He would likely have plenty of offers on the table, especially after a stellar start to his college career and being a former four-star recruit.
For the Wisconsin Badgers? Fans are starting to wonder what’s really going on in Madison. Between player departures and the uproar surrounding such incidents, one wonders what is going on behind closed doors with head coach Luke Fickell.
In the miniature term, the Badgers are looking to strengthen their 2025 roster, and if this is how they intend to deal with students entering the portal, attracting top talent may be challenging.
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