“Touchdown, Xavier Restrepo.”
Miami fans have probably heard this phrase on a regular basis. When it comes to embodying what it means to be a Hurricane, there are few players who fit the mold better than Restrepo. Although he stands just 5’10”, his tireless presence on the court is impossible to ignore.
Restrepo has dominated the first three games of the college football season so far. In his first matchup against the University of Florida, he had seven catches for 112 yards, including a touchdown and two spectacular plays.
On a missed throw by quarterback Cam Ward, Restrepo reached across his body and back to make a spectacular catch. Later in the game, after a short pass from Ward, Restrepo tricked two Florida defenders with a spin move and gained extra yards to put Miami in good position to score.
Whether he’s dazzling crowds with impossible catches or tearing defenses apart with precise route running, Restrepo’s work ethic is unmatched. From kick returns as a rookie to becoming the team’s best wideout in his fifth year, Restrepo has excelled in numerous roles during his time with the Hurricanes.
In UM’s Week 2 home game against Florida A&M University, Restrepo had 104 yards on just four catches, averaging 26 yards per catch, and a 50-yard touchdown. This was no ordinary game for Restrepo, as he moved up the Hurricanes’ all-time receiving yards list and is now 10th all-time with 1,980 yards following his two-touchdown performance against Ball State.
“It means a lot to me, you know, but honestly the only thing that matters right now is that we were 1-0 this week. I just get really excited every week to get on the field with my guys,” Restrepo told reporters after Miami’s win over FAMU about his climb up the all-time receiving yards list. “We worked hard again Monday through Friday to get an opportunity like this. It’s all God.”
Restrepo’s rise didn’t happen overnight. A three-star recruit from Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to ESPN, he put up incredible numbers in high school: 3,000 receiving yards, 2,500 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns, according to Miami Athletics. He led Deerfield Beach High to the semifinals of the 2019 Florida Class 8A state playoffs. His success in high school didn’t immediately translate to college, however.
In the shortened 2020 season, Restrepo did not spend much time on the field. In seven games, he caught just one pass for 12 yards.
In 2021, he emerged as one of the team’s best receivers, totaling 24 catches for 373 receiving yards. He finished the season fourth on the team in receiving yards and fifth in receptions. Restrepo looked to carry his stellar season into 2022, but a season-ending foot injury sidelined him for most of the year, leaving the Hurricanes without one of their most reliable receivers.
“He’s pretty good at everything he does,” former UM quarterback Tyler Van Dyke told reporters about Restrepo in 2022. “He’s just a hard worker, and on the field, he knows the defense. He always finds those gaps and those windows for me. That’s really helpful.”
Restrepo was given more opportunities in 2023 and delivered one of the most brilliant seasons by a wide receiver in program history, starting all 13 games and being named to the All-ACC First Team.
He set the program’s single-season record with 85 catches for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns. Restrepo had the sixth 1,000-yard season by a pass catcher in program history and had five 100-yard games during the season.
Not only has Restrepo made a big impact on the field, he has also given back to the South Florida community. For the past two seasons, Restrepo and his family have held youth soccer camps, teaching young athletes position-specific drills and skill tasks guided by teammates, coaches and mentors throughout Restrepo’s childhood.
“I would give back every moment and every opportunity I get,” Restrepo told New Era Prep. “I will never forget where I came from, this community raised me, loyalty is everything to me. Giving back to the kids means the world to me. I am a strong believer in Christ. Any time he gives me the opportunity to reach out to the younger generations that look up to me, I will never turn it down.”
As Miami continues its early season winning streak, Restrepo has a chance to put up historic numbers for his team and accomplish what he set out to do when he joined the Hurricanes: bring home a national championship.
