Xavier Restrepo opens up on his success following injuries last season

Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo missed five games in 2022 due to a foot injury but has returned this year in great form. He’s not the only one on the Hurricanes offense to do so either.

The program is now 3-0 on the year after a beatdown Thursday night of Bethume-Cookman. Restrepo talked after the game about coming back his injuries and what it is like to see himself and team thriving to being the 2023 campaign.

“I don’t pay too much attention to the standings, but it’s a great feeling to go out there with my teammates,” Restrepo said. “After all the hard work we put (in) since January just finally be able to execute against another team. I feel like the grass the guys attacked again today really well. I felt like we had a good performance.”

Restrepo had six catches for 120 yards against the Wildcats after having six receptions for 126 yards versus Texas A&M.

He is now third in the country in receiving yards on the season with 314, albeit he has played in three games while most other players have played in two.

The fourth-year wideout isn’t the only player finding himself on leaderboards after Thursday’s game. Tyler Van Dyke is now fifth in the country in passing yards at 822 yards. The other four quarterbacks to be at over 800 is an elite group of signal-callers in Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

He gave credit to new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson for how has got the team ready for the season.

“I mean I’m not really too much focused on last season, but Coach Dawson is doing a great job with the game plan,” Restrepo said. “Receivers are just executing. O-lines executing, running backs. Everyone’s just hitting right now. It’s Coach Dawson’s game plan so whatever he asks me to do, I do.”

Van Dyke also praised the first-year offensive coordinator for his job getting the team to buy into his system.

Dawson was previously the offensive coordinator at Houston.

“I think guys just bought into it. Trusted Coach Dawson, trusted how he wants us to run his plays,” Van Dyke said. “We’ve just been doing a great job of really executing. That’s what it’s all about. Making the throws, making the catches, run blocking, pass blocking. That’s why it’s about – executing.”