Xavier Restrepo expects explosive new offense and loves WR coach Kevin Beard
The Miami wide receivers were mostly underproductive during the 2022 season. Part of that was an injury to Xavier Restrepo that caused him to miss half the season. Restrepo had 11 receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown in Miami’s wins over Bethune-Cookman and Southern Mississippi to begin the 2022 season.
A foot injury caused Restrepo to miss the next five weeks last season. Restrepo finished the 2022 season with 21 receptions for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Prior to his foot injury, Restrepo was on pace for a breakout season and to become Miami’s leading receiver. Restrepo and Tyler Van Dyke were building a good rapport.
Jacolby George, Restrepo and Colbie Young have seemingly separated themselves from the rest of the Miami WRs through four spring practices. Xavier Restrepo is working with entirely new offensive coaches. Shannon Dawson brings a modified version of the air raid to Miami for the 2023 season.
National championship WR Kevin Beard returns to the Miami staff after previously working with the Hurricanes in 2014 and 2015. Beard knows what it takes to succeed as a WR at Miami as a starter in 2001. Xavier Restrepo praised the trust Dawson has in the WRs and the style Beard has as a position coach.
"“I love it, well-balanced offense, just getting to play coach Dawson gonna get the ball and the playmaker’s hands and just let us be explosive. (On new wide receivers coach Kevin Beard)…He’s a technician he’s a perfectionist. I really love him as a receiver coach. I’m thankful for him.Just you know behind the scenes…out here he never changes. So it’s one thing I appreciate about him…( On his injury) I feel great I feel 100 I’m back…Just maintain body and I actually got my body better I’m at like 10 body fat right now so um I want to drop a little bit more but you know still working…Everybody out there that wants to trim body fat I mean just hard work you know eating right and just training Non-Stop and recovering obviously."
Beard mentored a Toledo WR corps in 2022 led by Jerjuan Newton who had 53 receptions for 830 receiving yards and nine TDs last season. Nathaniel Dell led Houston with 109 receptions for 1,398 receiving yards and 17 TDs. Dell was second nationally in receptions and first in receiving yards and TD receptions.
Next. Miami building defensive depth critical remainder of spring. dark
Beard and Dawson bring WR-friendly offenses to Miami. Restrepo was on his way to a memorable season before the injury. Restrepo has clearly dedicated himself during the offseason to getting in better shape. Having Restrepo back healthy with the continued development of George and Younng should give Miami a strong 2023 WRs.