The college football season is just weeks away, making it the perfect time to spotlight rising stars. This segment will feature Miami Hurricanes’ slot wide receiver Xavier Restrepo.

Restrepo was an absolute menace on the football field in high school compiling over 3,000 receiving yards and rushing for over 2,500. He played offense and defense and captured 48 total touchdowns while also securing eight interceptions. After finding all of the success at the high school level, Restrepo would go on to commit to play for the University of Miami, where he has now made a name for himself.

The 22-year-old senior wide receiver plays mainly in the slot and is considered by many as one of the most polished slot wideouts in all of college football. The Hurricanes utilize him in a multitude of ways, but he ended up finishing the 2023 season with 85 receptions for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus listed him at number five in their top-10 returning wide receivers article. Author Max Chadwick discussed how clutch Restrepo is and how he is a perfect ‘security blanket’ for any quarterback that goes under center for the Hurricanes moving forward, especially new signal-caller Cameron Ward.

Restrepo is the most productive returning slot receiver in college football. His 1,074 receiving yards from that alignment were second among FBS receivers this past season to Virginia’s Malik Washington, who’s heading to the NFL. The junior finished with an 87.5 PFF grade this past season, seventh among Power Five receivers. 

Restrepo is the ultimate security blanket. In 2023, he was third among returning Power Five receivers with 53 catches that went for either a first down or touchdown. He’ll be new quarterback Cameron Ward’s best friend in 2024.

Restrepo’s Collegiate Statistics: 

2020: 1 Reception for 12 Yards, 12.0 Average, 0 TDs

2021: 24 Receptions for 373 Yards, 15.5 Average, 2 TDs

2022: 21 Receptions for 240 Yards, 11.4 Average, 2 TDs

2023: 85 Receptions for 1,092 Yards, 12.8 Average, 6 TDs

2024: TBD

The production level for Restrepo should increase in 2024, but may slow down at the beginning of the season with a new quarterback at the helm. It always is a learning process to get on the same page with a new quarterback and with an existing wide receiver who has been dominant in the past. I still expect the 5-foot-11 receiver to make plays early and often for the Hurricanes and be their leader on offense.

You can see all of Restrepo and the Hurricanes’ offensive attack in just a few short weeks when they face off against the Florida Gators on August 31st at 3:30 p.m.