Three Miami football WRs most likely to step up with Xavier Restrepo out
The Miami football team will need other wide receivers to increase their productivity with a report from the Miami Herald on Thursday afternoon that leading receiver Xavier Restrepo is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Restrepo has 11 receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown.
After not recording a reception in the season opener versus Bethune-Cookman, Key’Shawn Smith had three receptions for 49 yards and a 35-yard touchdown off of a flea flicker in the 30-7 Miami win over Southern Mississippi last week. Brashard Smith who will replace Restrepo as the slot receiver has shown promise.
Brashard Smith had four receptions for 53 yards and one carry for seven yards versus Bethune-Cookman. Smith had two receptions for 12 yards and one carry for six versus Southern Mississippi. Restrepo has been the leading receiver for the Miami football team in each game this season.
Against Bethune-Cookman, Restrepo had five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown. Restrepo followed up an outstanding performance in the season opener with six receptions for 72 yards and a TD versus Southern Mississippi. Michael Redding III is the only Miami wide receiver with as many as 72 yards this season.
Brashard Smith is the only receiver on the Miami football team that has as many as six receptions in 2022. Redding III has five receptions for 76 yards and a TD in 2022. Brashard Smith has six receptions for 65 yards and two carries for 13 yards. Playing in the slot, it seems likely for Smith to receive the most targets with Restrepo out.
Miami also gets sophomore Jacolby George back from a two-game suspension. Frank Ladson and Romello Brinson are ahead of George on the Miami depth chart at WR. Miami also has true freshman Isaiah Horton and junior college transfer Colbie Young. Brinson has two receptions for 28 yards and Ladson two for 33.
Key’Shawn Smith was the leading Miami returning receiver entering the 2022 season. Smith had 33 receptions for 405 yards and three TDs in 2021. Smith has also been elite with three kick returns for 184 yards this season. One of Smith’s returns was called back due to a penalty. Miami needs more production at tight end.
Miami TEs have only six receptions for 75 yards without a TD this season. Freshman TE Jaleel Skinner has 30 of the 75 TE receiving yards on one reception versus Bethune-Cookman. Fifth-year senior Will Mallory has only two receptions for 21 yards this season. Mallory was shut out last week versus Southern Mississippi.
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Expect quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to target Mallory, Redding III and Brashard and Key’Shawn Smith the most with Restrepo out. Miami has been inconsistent in the passing game under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. The Hurricanes need to find a way to compensate for the loss of Restrepo.