Miami Hurricanes WR Xavier Restrepo sees total turnaround in culture and mood of team this year: “It’s going to be special”
Last year was supposed to be the breakout season for Miami Hurricanes WR Xavier Restrepo. It didn’t come to fruition, with Restrepo suffering an early-season injury and never really getting back into form once he returned.
It didn’t help that Miami QB/Restrepo’s roommate Tyler Van Dyke also was injured at the midway point of the year in what was essentially a season-ending injury. The end result in 2022 was a 5-7 season, of course.
“Man, it was hard, very hard – last year was pretty tough, man,” Restrepo said in a Miami in-house interview. “After that Middle Tennessee game, me and him just talked a good hour, hour and a half, and honestly we were just like letting everything out. We just let everything out emotionally and just sat there, talked that night (after the game).”
The difference this year?
“Man, you don’t understand the culture, the mood we have going on around the team right now,” Restrepo said. “I can’t wait to hop in the Rock (stadium), man. … the coaches, coach Mario Cristobal is inputting into us having a great culture. We’re taking account now, the players are. Man, again, it’s going to be special.”
The offense bogged down in 2022 under Josh Gattis; now the team is going with a hybrid Air-Raid attack under new coordinator Shannon Dawson. And the guy who worked in Restrepo’s slot position most of the time under Dawson at Houston last year, Nathaniel Dell, ended the season with 109 catches for 1,398 yards and 17 TDs.
“As long as we communicate and are all on the same page, every single step clicking – coach Dawson gets with the position coaches and coach Kevin Beard does a really, really good job of explaining every minute detail of every single route, every block, everything,” Restrepo said. “We have a really good wide receivers coach that knows how to get the best out of us.”
Restrepo adds of Beard that “He’s a real big technician guy – that’s been my main thing my whole life.”
With Dawson heading the attack, Restrepo is confident he can help make the offense go.
“Every single time I step on the field, I feel like I can’t lose,” Restrepo said. “I’ve always felt that. I have literally zero doubt when I step on the football field.
“If someone lines up in front of me, I’m going to destroy them. … Whoever you put in front of me I’m going to try to embarrass somebody else’s child.”
Last year Restrepo wound up starting just two games and playing off the bench in five others. He had a disappointing 21 catches for 240 yards and two TDs. He has made his name as a hard worker in Miami practices, diving for balls and always going 100 percent. So if he can remain healthy there’s the expectation he’ll start in the slot and be a major weapon.
In his career to this point he has a total of 46 catches for 625 yards and four scores.
“I am not the fastest, I am not the biggest, but you don’t have to have that to be the best football player,” Restrepo said. “You just have to win.”
At 5-10 and 195 pounds, Restrepo is a smaller receiver perhaps in the mold of a Julian Edelman. Edelman is a guy that Restrepo says he’ll watch film on.
“Those guys (like Edelman) control the game, play like they’re 6-5,” Restrepo said.
Restrepo also says he got some advice from WR Antonio Brown.
“(Brown said) `For the first 2-3 drives I’m setting guys up even on blocking plays,’” Restrepo said. “I watch his game and I’m like `Let me try that.’ I tried it, and by the second, third quarter I have a move for every single defensive tactic that he has. I just kind of set guys up like that.”
Restrepo is joined in the slot by true freshman speedster Ray Ray Joseph along with returner Brashard Smith.
Restrepo spoke about some of his fellow wideouts:
*Colbie Young: “He’s a big kid, man. He’s funny, humongous, man. He’s giant. Arms long as hell, legs long as hell. … He showed me a card from the Nike whatever going into his senior year (of high school) and he ran like a 4.97 and we were laughing like man, what the heck were you doing?”
*Jacolby George: “I’d say routes, hands, and just a competitor.”
*Isaiah Horton: “The goofiest one on the team, man. He has a lot of talent, I can’t wait until he gets some gametime reps because as soon as that happens he’ll mature as a football player and I’m telling you – the sky is the limit for Isaiah Horton. He’s special, really special.”
*Brashard Smith: “Fast, just a competitor. He’s just hungry.”
*Frank Ladson: “That’s my dancing partner, we always hit our little moves on the field together. Another competitor.”
*Mike Redding: “Same class, we’re the only ones left in our class. Technician, smart, leader.”
*Tyler Harrell: “Fast as crap.”
*Ray Ray Joseph: “Another fast one. Hard worker and a competitor.”
*Robby Washington: “Hands down you ask anybody on the team, Robby is top 3 (funniest on the team). Another competitor and route runner.”
It’s a group that, along with Restrepo, is looking for his breakout year.
Restrepo anticipates doing his part for a Miami program he calls his “dream college.”
“Ever since I was a little kid – I love all South Florida teams,” Restrepo said. “Me playing football, being the next major step into my success, Miami was just my heart all the time from growing up 4 years old to 18.”
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