University of Miami files to dismiss Wisconsin lawsuit alleging player tampering
Wisconsin in its June lawsuit alleged Miami committed tortious interference regarding a binding revenue-sharing deal involving defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Madison to return home to South Florida to play for the Hurricanes despite the University of Wisconsin blocking his release into the transfer portal.
The University of Wisconsin and its name, image and likeness collective filed the suit in June claiming the University of Miami allegedly 'interfered with UW-Madison's relationship with Student-Athlete A [Lucas] by making impermissible contact with him and engaging in tampering.' The lawsuit seeks 'unspecified damages, transparency and accountability from Miami' for its actions. The university is not pursuing legal action against Lucas, who isn't directly named in the lawsuit.
In its motion, Miami made the case that Wisconsin does not have jurisdiction to sue it in Wisconsin state circuit court. Part of Miami's motion also included unsworn testimony from Lucas denying contact with anyone from Miami before he attempted to leave Wisconsin.
Lucas, a Pompano Beach native who went to high school at Plantation American Heritage, transferred to Miami in January ahead of the spring semester despite a month-long contentious standoff with Wisconsin.
Lucas on Dec. 19 originally announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal following his freshman season at Wisconsin, which his attorney Darren Heitner told Yahoo at the time was because his father was dealing with a 'serious, life-threatening illness.'
More than a week passed, and Lucas' name wasn't entered into the portal. The NCAA mandates that a school has to enter a player's name into the transfer portal within 48 hours of the player filling out the paperwork.
When Wisconsin didn't, it started a protracted standoff between Lucas and the school.
'At the moment, Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal,' Lucas wrote on social media on Dec. 27, eight days after his initial announcement about transferring. 'I've met all NCAA requirements of the transfer portal by Wisconsin which is impeding my ability to speak with schools.'
Lucas formally left Wisconsin and enrolled academically at Miami on Jan. 17 despite never actually entering the transfer portal. The NCAA said in a statement to Yahoo at the time that its rules 'do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately.'
Wisconsin, however, said shortly afterward that Lucas' transfer violated a 'binding two-year NIL agreement' and that the school had 'credible information indicating impermissible contact' between Lucas and UM football personnel.
'Direct interference with another institution's committed player and contractual interests is prohibited by NCAA tampering rules and the law,' the Wisconsin statement from Jan. 18 said, which also added that the school will 'evaluate all options going forward to determine the appropriate course of action.'
In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes. Lucas was a Miami Herald first-team All-County football selection as a senior at American Heritage and was also a standout sprinter and long jumper on the Patriots' track and field team.
Lucas is one of four cornerbacks the Hurricanes added via transfer following the 2024 season, joining Michigan State's Charles Brantley, Washington State's Ethan O'Connor and Houston's Keionte Scott. A fifth, Arizona's Emmanuel Karnley, transferred to UM ahead of spring and then transferred out following spring ball. Lucas has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
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