UM ‘X-Man’ Restrepo has big heart: ‘A true blessing to represent my brother in heaven’
University of Miami freshman slot receiver Xavier Restrepo is just one of those young men who trains with intensity, plays with intensity and has a heart full of intense pride and passion.
So it’s no surprise that the 5-10, 190-pound Restrepo, a versatile, highly successful player on both sides of the ball when he played for the Deerfield Beach Bucks, asked Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz if he could change his jersey number from 80 to 7 to honor his former Bucks teammate Bryce Gowdy.
Gowdy, 17, a talented, well loved player who was about to start his college football career on a full scholarship with Georgia Tech, died in late December when he was hit by a freight train. His death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner.
“How important was it for you to be able to wear No. 7 for Bryce?’’ Restrepo was asked Wednesday during Zoom interviews.
Restrepo explained that when he broached the subject of changing his jersey number to Diaz, the coach didn’t acquiesce immediately.
He said he was told “all camp by Coach Diaz, ‘Just work, just work. We’re not going to talk about numbers now.’
“I just took that into consideration and just took that as motivation,’’ Restrepo said. “Just worked my tail off and Coach Diaz blessed me with having the opportunity to represent my brother up in heaven. And that’s just a true blessing.
“I told Coach Diaz, ‘I’m not going to let him down, because that’s a true blessing to represent one of my fallen soldiers.’’’
Restrepo has played in two of eighth-ranked UM’s three games this season, and returned a punt 8 yards in UM’s 52-10 victory Saturday against Florida State, as well as registering a tackle on special teams.
The Canes (3-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off this weekend and next face No. 1 Clemson (2-0, 1-0) on Oct. 10 in Clemson, South Carolina.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 1:26 PM.
