The loss of 2021 leading receivers Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo were grossly underestimated entering the 2022 season. According to Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U on the Through the Smoke podcast, none of the wide receivers on the current Miami football roster have a 100-yard receiving game versus a Power Five team.
Rambo had six 100-yard receiving games in 2021 with five coming in the last half of the season. All six came against Power Five opponents. Harley did not have any 100-yard receiving games in 2021 but had all three of his 100-yard receiving games in 2020 as the top Miami receiver versus Power Five opponents.
Xavier Restrepo who is out until at least the end of October opened the 2022 season with five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown versus FCS Bethune-Cookman in a 70-13 Miami win. Despite missing the last two Miami football games, Restrepo is tied for the team lead with Key’Shawn at 172 receiving yards.
Smith is a deep threat with the potential to become the first Miami WR on the current roster to top 100 receiving yards against a Power Five opponent. Four times in his career Smith has top 70 receiving yards. Smith set a career-high in 2021 with 82 receiving yards plus a TD in the 38-34 Miami win at Pittsburgh.
Clemson transfer Frank Ladson is another Miami WR to watch. Ladson had all six of his receptions for 65 yards in the first of the Miami loss to Middle Tennessee State last month before missing the second half with an injury. The six receptions were a career-high for Ladson and the 65 yards were his third-highest collegiate total.
Tight end Will Mallory is the most experienced receiver on the Miami roster and had a career-high six receptions for 78 yards and a TD in a 44-41 win over North Carolina State in 2020. Mallory is tied for the Miami team lead in 2022 with sophomore WR Brashard Smith with 12 receptions.
Miami needs someone to step up and become the alpha receiver with Restrepo out. Restrepo was trending towards having a few 100-yard games versus Power Five opponents this season. Miami has missed Restrepo in the last two games with Tyler Van Dyke struggling. Expect Ladson, Mallory, or Smith to emerge as the top receiver.