Speaking at media day on Tuesday, wide receiver Xavier Restrepo discussed the culture of the Miami football team. Restrepo will be one of the leaders for Miami in 2024. Miami will have a mostly young WR corps in 2024. Jacolby George is the only other WR who has played three seasons with Miami.
Restrepo enters 2024 needing 52 receptions and 830 receiving yards to set the Miami all-time records. Restrepo is a fifth-year senior in 2024. The NCAA granted an extra season of eligibility to all players who participated in 2020. Restrepo was a freshman during the 2020 season.
Miami has experience beyond George and Restrepo at WR, but not extensively with the Hurricanes. George, Restrepo and Houston transfer Sam Brown are the projected starting receivers for Miami in 2024. Brown is entering his fifth season of collegiate eligibility.
Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Horton is projected as the fourth WR in the 2024 Miami rotation. True freshman Joshisa Trader has been reported as the leader to be the fifth WR for Miami in 2024. Redshirt junior Shemar Kirk and sophomore Ray Ray Joseph are also likely to be part of the Miami rotation in 2024.
" “It’s very important from a team culture-wise...The young guys don’t know…and even the transfers coming from a different school, they’ve got to see what our team culture is like. I think for the older guys, for the team captains, it’s very important for us to set the stage for those guys.”"Xavier Restrepo
Longtime Miami beat writer Christy Cabrera Chirinos quoted several players including the above from Restrepo for MiamiHurricanes.Com. During ACC Kickoff last week Mario Cristobal and the Miami player representatives discussed the need for the Hurricanes to respond differently to adversity in 2024.
Restrepo rebounded from a midseason slump in 2023 to post prolific numbers over the final three games of the season. Showing the ability to play well after three subpar games Restrepo demonstrated the Miami culture by example. Expect Restrepo to particular focus on mentoring Joseph.
Joseph will be the primary backup to Restrepo as the slot receiver in 2024 and the heir at the position in 2025. Restrepo will be one of the unquestioned leaders for Miami in 2024 and one of the team captains when they are named later this summer. Miami has to back up the Cristobal culture with performance this season.