Miami's Xavier Restrepo tabbed as one of nation's top pass-catchers heading into 2024 season

After a record-breaking season last year in Miami, fifth-year wide receiver Xavier Restrepo is back for his final campaign in Coral Gables with big expectations. Despite missing one game last year, Restrepo, who earned a first-team All-ACC selection, broke Miami’s single-season receptions record with 85 catches last year while eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark with 1,092 yards. 

Those numbers caught the attention of many across the college football world, including a handful of experts over at ESPN who ranked the South Florida native as the sixth-best wide receiver/tight end entering the 2024 season. 

Using a point-based system where 10 points were awarded for first place, nine for second place, and down to one point for 10th place, Restrepo’s 28 points placed him as the sixth-best pass-catcher in the nation behind the likes of Missouri’s Luther Burden, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, and Oregon’s Trez Johnson. 

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura explained why: Restrepo had three relatively quiet seasons at Miami before 2023, when he turned in one of the best years by a receiver in school history. The South Florida native set a school record with 85 catches, becoming just the sixth Hurricanes receiver ever to break the 1,000-yard mark in a season (1,092). A first-team All-ACC selection, Restrepo was at his best in a loss to Louisville, when he caught eight passes for 193 yards with a touchdown late in the year. He had a strong connection with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, but will now be catching passes from former Washington State QB Cam Ward, who briefly announced he would enter the NFL draft before reversing course and transferring to Miami.

So far this spring, Restrepo has continued to show why so many have regarded him as one of the premier pass-catchers in all of college football. During the Hurricanes opening week of spring practice, the 5-foot-10, 198-pounder has had a few jaw-dropping catches, including an ESPN top-10-worthy one-handed reception over new Miami safety Mishael Powell. 

WHAT A CATCH🔥@Cameron7Ward ➡️ @XavierRestrepo1 #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/ActxUB63wk

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) March 7, 2024

“Mish had great defense, nothing better he could do,” Restrepo said after the team’s practice. “It was just an absolute dime by Cam (Ward). Threw it in the air and let me do what I do best: Catch the ball. … That’s not the first time I’ve made that (kind of) catch, you know? Behind the scenes work (helps). Great ball, great defense, just made a play.”

Ward has built an early connection with Restrepo after team- and player-led workouts this offseason. Not only has Restrepo begun building that oh-so-important bond with Ward, but all of Miami’s quarterbacks as well. 

“He (Ward) and all the quarterbacks have the work ethic that is just contagious,” Restrepo said. “We all want to be around them all day, every day whether it’s film room, weight room, out here (at practice), just chilling.”

In year two under Canes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, Restrepo will look to continue to progress his game.

Alongside returners Jacolby George (57 catches, 864 yards, 8 TDs), Isaiah Horton, and a few underclassmen as well, Restrepo is set to lead a revamped Miami offense into the 2024 season as he looks to not only solidify himself but the entire WR corps as one of the nation’s best. 

“He’s as constant as you get week in, day in, game in,” offensive coordinator ShannonDawson said of Restrepo. “I’ve preached to some other players, too, that the best players I’ve been around are the same player every day. That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give a player, and I can give Strep that. … That play he made today? He makes a play like that almost every day. He’s just very consistent in his work ethic, effort, understands football. He really plays hard. We don’t have everybody playing hard, but he plays hard.”