The transfer portal remains an intriguing subject, with the latest drama centering on Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell and standout true freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas. Both parties are holding their ground, but it’s difficult to see a positive outcome for the Badgers.
Lucas is a highly regarded player, recognized as one of the top true freshman cornerbacks in the Big Ten. Other programs have taken notice, especially with Wisconsin missing a bowl game for the first time in over two decades and a significant number of players entering the transfer portal, signaling trouble ahead. This context led to Lucas’s recent statement.
However, Lucas never officially entered the transfer portal, and it was later disclosed that this was due to Wisconsin’s decision, not his own.
Since Lucas’s latest post, discussions about who is at fault have ensued. Is it Wisconsin for preventing his entry into the portal, the NCAA for its lack of oversight, or the other schools that engaged in tampering with a player who was not yet in the portal?
Responsibility can be shared among all parties, but none is entirely to blame. Wisconsin, Lucas, and the schools involved in tampering are each acting in their own interests, while the NCAA has long struggled with enforcing regulations. While it’s easy to direct blame at the NCAA, it ultimately serves little purpose.
Many argue that this situation could have been avoided if not for rampant tampering. While that may be true, such practices are prevalent and unchecked. Consequently, even as the Badgers attempt to take a stand, this issue is widespread and ongoing, so their efforts will likely have little impact.
Moreover, it raises the question of how Lucas can continue to play in Madison when it seems clear he no longer wishes to be there, and his current situation isn’t conducive to changing his mind. An upset and potentially disruptive player is not something any team would want on their roster.
2024 has been challenging for the program, and while losing Lucas would exacerbate the situation, the truth is he is already mentally absent.
