Cam Ward breaks down underrated aspect of Xavier Restrepo’s game

The newcomers at Miami have received a lot of attention this offseason, but it’s important to not forget about one of the top receivers in the ACC, who is also back in Coral Gables. Xavier Restrepo opted to come back for his senior season after being named a first-team All-ACC selection in 2023.

Despite the Hurricanes having inconsistent quarterback play, Restrepo caught 85 passes for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns last season. The 5-foot-10 wideout seems to always be open, and if the ball is thrown anywhere near him, he brings it in.

New Miami QB Cam Ward recently spoke about Xavier Restrepo and what it’s like playing with such a talented receiver.

“The biggest thing about Strep that I think he gets mistaken for is he doesn’t get the recognition of how he runs his routes,” Cam Ward said at ACC Kickoff . “The way he can stem, the way he can win versus man. Me and him have built a connection where he knows what space I like to get to, when I like to get there. He knows when to bend his routes off flat. He knows when to keep them higher. So you know, he sees space how I see space.”

Restrepo is the leader of a talented group of Miami receivers that also includes Houston transfer Samuel Brown . It’s not just Restrepo who seems to be able to read Ward’s mind, though.

“All of the receivers do now,” Ward said. “I feel like that’s what we struggled with at first but it’s clicked for him. I told him straight up, I’m throwing the ball to y’all. Y’all are the ones who will make all the plays.”

Ward transferred in from Washington State this offseason after passing for more than 3,700 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2023. He is getting talked about as a difference maker and potential Heisman candidate for the Hurricanes.

However, he insists that if Miami gets to where it wants to be, it will be because of a total team effort, which includes Xavier Restrepo.

“Yea, my name, your name will be in the paper. But at the end of the day, y’all are going to make all the plays,” Ward said. “The receiver room is going to make this offense go. They’ve gotta run routes, they’ve gotta block people. The receivers and the o-line have the hardest part of the offense. If we just continue to instill that in them they’re going to rise to the occasion every game and we’re going to follow them.”

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