Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas has left for Miami, according to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger.
He does so without officially entering the transfer portal. Wisconsin blocked him from doing so during the winter window after Lucas reportedly ‘signed a two-year revenue-share agreement’ in early December, per Dellenger.
Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement
Here is a brief timeline of events: Lucas originally announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 19. He then stated publicly on Dec. 27 that Wisconsin was ‘refusing to release’ him. No movement was made as the winter window closed on Dec. 28. Lucas then hired a Florida-based attorney on Jan. 7, who quickly threatened legal action against Wisconsin.
The latest update is Dellenger’s report — Lucas leaving for Miami. It is unlikely to be the last in a series of events that may carry significance for the sport’s future.
https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1880380761238597692
Dellenger writes that Lucas signed a ‘Big Ten-issued template form’ in early-December that ‘binds’ him to Wisconsin, giving it exclusive rights to his name, image and likeness. In other words, it’s the closest thing in college football to a contract. That contract is not with the school, however, but rather with its collective. This understandably creates confusion about how the contract can be enforced, or who can enforce it.
Lucas exiting the reported agreement and playing for Miami could result in litigation, the result of which could define the future of college football’s transfer structure.
This is the first significant case of a player challenging the strength of the sport’s NIL-related agreements, as well as that transfer structure. Lucas winning any potential litigation would make irrelevant most of the existing infrastructure that the sport has in place, transfer windows as a prominent example.
This situation will also obviously affect Wisconsin on the field. Lucas was an emerging star as a true freshman and was set to lead the Badgers’ cornerback room for the next three seasons.
It is unlikely to be the last headline in the Wisconsin-Xavier Lucas transfer saga. Now, at least, his destination is clear.
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