ESPN names Xavier Restrepo the #6 pass-catcher in the nation

DMoney · Mar 16, 2024

When WR Xavier Restrepo signed with Miami, he was ranked the #623 player in the nation and listed as an “Athlete.” He’s underrated no more. ESPN just named him the #6 pass catcher in the nation heading into the 2024 season.

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...g-top-10-wide-receivers-college-football-2024

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura writes “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)”

Restrepo was named first-team All ACC last season, as he raised his YPC by a full yard and tripled his TD total to 6. While some naysayers claimed he was force-fed by his roommate, QB Tyler Van Dyke, he proved just as effective in the bowl game with QB Jacurri Brown (11 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD).

Restrepo bounced around in his high school career, beginning at Monarch before transferring to St. Thomas Aquinas and, finally, Deerfield Beach. He blossomed with the Bucks, making plays at QB, RB, WR, PR and on defense. He also tested well at the high school level, running a 4.58 forty and a 4.16 shuttle. This is what I said about him as a during his senior season:

DMoney said:
Not sure what more he can do to get respect. He's beaten the best competition in pads, in 7on7, in camps and in testing. He's a player.

And here is what one of his HS coaches, our own @Coach Macho, wrote about X back in 2019:

Coach Macho said:
X been doing his thing in SOUTH FLORIDA for years. This ain't fvckin' Carolina. By 10th grade he managed to establish himself as one of the best football players in South Florida...as a white boy! LOL
You know how much of a bada$$ you gotta be to do that down here?

He's been doubted his whole life, so he carries a huge chip on his shoulder.
Some of yall may not believe it, but there are doubts and stereotypes that he's dealt with for a long time playing ball down here. It even carries over in recruiting. Scouts would come to our school. They heard about him. But they would always ask our head coach "but can he really play?"
Even college scouts doubted his actual ability. They thought it was just a hype thing, like "he can play for a white boy".
Our HC had to tell people dozens of times, "Nah, the kid is a real dog. He's our best football player."

What's it say about a kid's ability when he transfers to a team loaded with D1 skill kids and he becomes the PR, KR, Safety, RB, Nickle, Wildcat QB, etc? When we needed something done he was the first player we looked to.

And he balled versus EVERYBODY.
It wasn't like he only excelled versus the trash. He showed up in every game, even the ones where his teammates didn't.

The full Top 10 list from ESPN:

1. Luther Burden III, Missouri
2. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
4. Tez Johnson, Oregon
5. Tre Harris, Ole Miss
6. Xavier Restrepo, Miami
7. Caullin Lacy, Louisville
8. Colston Loveland, Michigan
9. Travis Hunter, Colorado
10. Isaiah Bond, Texas