South Florida native Xavier Lucas is heading home to join the Hurricanes, despite potential legal complications with his current school.
The Wisconsin cornerback’s transfer to Miami comes with controversy, as reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, since Wisconsin has refused to enter Lucas into the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Lucas has enlisted attorney Darren Heitner to address the portal entry dispute with Wisconsin.
The transfer addresses Miami’s need for an elite cornerback. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 200 pounds, Lucas brings three years of eligibility after an impressive freshman season with the Badgers, where he logged 203 snaps.
His debut season included a start in Wisconsin’s finale against Nebraska, recording an interception and three pass breakups. Pro Football Focus statistics show Lucas allowed only nine completions on 19 targets (47.4%), yielding 127 yards and one touchdown. He added 18 tackles, including one for loss and half a sack.
Lucas earned the highest PFF defensive grade (81.2) on Wisconsin’s roster, with strong marks in coverage (80.5), tackling (76.8), and run defense (71.0).
His arrival creates a formidable cornerback duo with freshman All-American OJ Frederique, both having three years of eligibility. Damari Brown adds depth to the young cornerback group.
Miami’s secondary has been further strengthened by Jacksonville State transfer Zechariah Poyser, the second-ranked safety in 247Sports’ Transfer Rankings, along with cornerback additions Ethan O’Connor, Charles Brantley, and Emmanuel Karnley.
The addition of Lucas solidifies Miami’s defensive backfield with promising young talent for years to come.
Miami Lands Wisconsin Star Lucas Amid Transfer Drama
