In one of the most disappointing transfers announcements yet, freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas has announced he is headed to the portal.
Thank you Wisconsin for everything! Iām officially in the transfer portal.
ā Xavier Lucas (@XavierL_25) December 19, 2024
Freshman CB Lucas Leaves Wisconsin after Stellar First Season
Lucas was a budding star for the Badgers, playing significant time in the secondary already as a true freshman. He improved every week and was a bright spot on an otherwise pedestrian Badger defense. He finished the season with 18 tackles, a sack and an interception. At one point in the season, he was PFF's highest-graded freshman cornerback.
Highest Graded True Freshman CB this season:
ā PFF College (@PFF_College) September 12, 2024
š¦” Xavier Lucas, Wisconsin: 81.8@BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/dZE0by57ey
This leaves a huge void to fill for Luke Fickell and the Badgers as Xavier was almost certainly going to start at corner in 2025. It also continues a distressing trend of defensive backs leaving Wisconsin for the transfer portal. So far in the past month, eight members of the Badgers secondary have left the team via the portal. Defensive backs coach Paul Haynes has come under some scrutiny for the mass exodus in the secondary, and Lucas is debatably the biggest loss yet.
The program will now have to look to the portal themselves to find another starter after Lucas' departure. Their 2025 class includes a pair of three-star cornerback recruits in Jaimier Scott and Jahmare Washington.