Xavier Restrepo’s spot in Hurricanes record book is secured. But the big goal still remains
Xavier Restrepo could have taken the easy way out. His first three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes didn’t go as planned. Lightly used in his first two seasons before the head coach who recruited him was ousted. Injured for a good chunk of the third year.
He could have transferred, tried to find another opportunity at another school.
But he didn’t.
Restrepo, a Coconut Creek native who grew up a Hurricanes fan and graduated from Deerfield Beach High, stayed the course.
And now, he’s reaping the fruits of his labor.
With his eight-catch, 146-yard, three-touchdown performance in Miami’s 53-31 win over Duke on Saturday, Restrepo became the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in career receiving yards. He now has 2,573 yards, surpassing the previous mark held by Santana Moss (2,547).
Additionally, his 182 career catches are tied with Mike Harley for most in Miami history.
“I’ve put a lot a lot of work into it, humbly speaking,” said Restrepo, who has 51 catches for 856 yards and nine touchdowns this season. “I’ve put a lot of work to it behind closed doors. … To be in the conversation [with UM greats], yes, it is an amazing opportunity for me. [These are] NFL legends, NFL Hall of Famers that we’re talking about.”
The smile on Restrepo’s face as he talked during his postgame press conference, game ball in hand, told the story. The messages he received after the game added to the reality of the moment.
But the determination in his voice also sent a clear message of where his focus lies.
Yes, Restrepo’s spot in Hurricanes lore is all but set individually, but the bigger goal in his final season — a chance for a national title — still remains.
Miami is unbeaten, 9-0 overall and 5-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, heading into their road game against Georgia Tech at noon Saturday. They are ranked No. 4 in the AP poll and have the inside track to make it to the ACC Championship Game if they run through the rest of their schedule.
In a sense, Restrepo is a microcosm of the Hurricanes team as a whole. He’s a shining example of perseverance, of how hard work, determination and faith can go a long way. He didn’t shy away from challenges or expectations. He embraced it.
That will continue as Restrepo maneuvers through his final season with Miami.
“I’m a big person in loyalty,” Restrepo said. “I think once you start something, you finish something. And look how God works.”
Chip on his shoulder
To understand Restrepo’s drive, take a look back at his journey to UM.
He was an undersized receiver at 5-10 and 170 pounds, a three-star recruit according to the 247Sports Composite ranking.
But Restrepo, with a strong support system in his family and religion, never doubted he would eventually get to this point.
“Growing up just has everything to do with it,” Restrepo said. “How I grew up, all the doubters I had and stuff like that. And I think most importantly is just my faith. I fear one man and one man only, that’s God. I feel like nothing else can defeat me, because everything that is counted as a loss is just a lesson you learn from.”
On Saturday, after he hauled in his record-setting catch — a 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the fourth quarter, slipping past a pair of Duke defenders after making the catch — the ABC cameras panned to the crowd, where his mom, Ashley Padgett, was crying tears of joy.
“My parents, they’ve seen a lot what the world hasn’t seen,” Restrepo said. “They’ve heard a lot what the world hasn’t heard. My mom after the game got emotional, even my dad a little bit — not my little brother; he has no emotion — but for sure, it’s definitely a special one for them. It means a lot to do it in front of them.”
It was a validating moment for Restrepo, a team captain and a vocal presence in the locker room — and the latest big moment for him this season.
Restrepo time and again has proven his worth for Miami during their undefeated start and emerged as one of college football’s top slot receivers. He’s made acrobatic catches up the middle of the field, shaken off defenders to extend plays, even caught a fourth-down pass on his back after he slipped on his route. He has been selfless too, a key contributor in blocks downfield to allow teammates to have their time in the limelight as well.
But that doesn’t mean he’s satisfied. Not in the slightest.
There’s always another level to achieve. A play that can be executed better. A hunger that isn’t satiated.
“Typically guys like that never lose that chip,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “They just don’t. I mean, I think in 10 years, he’s going to have that chip on his shoulder. … Those things, at that point in time in your life, when you’re 17 or 18 years old and your whole life you’ve played a sport, and people are looking at you a certain way. You never forget that. You know that time in your life it’s [about] a next step. You know you’re going from high school and it’s into the unknown a little bit. Everybody wants to know and feel good, and then when people look at you in a way that is a little bit different than the way you look at yourself, you don’t forget that. And I think that’s probably one of the times in your life that probably sticks with you the longest, that little bit of the vibe right there from high school to college. He’ll never lose that. And he doesn’t need to lose it because that’s what makes him him.”
More to come
Throughout the season, Restrepo has had the chance to talk with some of the legends whose records he has broken. He talked with Reggie Wayne before Miami’s win over Louisville. Michael Irvin and Lamar Thomas are regulars on the sidelines.
“That really means a lot,” Restrepo said, “coming from those guys that have done so much in the game of football.”
And there’s likely even more history to come for Restrepo before his Hurricanes career is all said and done.
He has 11 career 100-yard receiving games — the most in UM history.
He has a chance to be the first Canes player with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
His 19 career touchdown catches are tied with Moss for seventh all-time in school history and just seven shy of Irvin’s record of 26.
The success comes after compiling just 46 catches, 625 yards and four touchdowns through his first three seasons with UM.
He caught a school-record 85 catches for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns last season. He’s putting up even better numbers this year as he continues leaving his mark on the UM record book.
“A tremendous badge of honor,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “Every single day that guy buckles up and gets after it. Just a great example for the way you should approach it. You just work, man. You work. You work through tough seasons, you work through personnel deficiencies. You just keep going. And if you’re with the right people, you trust it’s going to work out — and he stuck with it.”
But beyond his performance, if all goes well over the next three months, Restrepo has a chance to be a national champion as well.
He’s finishing what he started.
“The most important thing,” Restrepo said, “is that we’ve just to get back on Greentree [practice field]. ... It’s all about the work.”
This story was originally published November 4, 2024 at 1:47 PM.
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