Xavier Restrepo named 2024 Big Play WR to watch

Xavier Restrepo returns to the Miami football program as a fifth-year senior in 2024 after a record setting 2023 season. Jacolby George and Restrepo provide Miami with one of the best pairs of big-play receivers in college football entering 2024. Quarterback Cam Ward was one of the best big-play passers in 2023.

George and Restrepo teaming with Ward should provide Miami with one of the best big-play passing games in college football in 2024. Restrepo was 27th nationally in 2023 with 40 receptions of 10 or more yards, 10th with 20 catches of 20 or more yards and tied for 50th with 34 other receivers including George with four receptions of 40 or more yards.

Ward was ninth nationally with 144 completions in 2023 of 10 or more yards and 11th with 52 completions of 20 or more yards. With Ward throwing to George and Restrepo, all three should be ranked among the big play performers in the passing game during the 2024 season.

Washington State WR Josh Kelly was 17th in 2023 with 43 receptions of 10 yards or more, 33rd with 16 catches or 20 or more yards, 17th with 10 receptions of 30 or more yards and was one of the players tied with George and Restrepo of players with four receptions of 40 or more yards. Ward has proven the ability to connect with his receivers for big plays.

"10. XAVIER RESTREPO, MIAMI
There's not going to be a receiver in the ACC who benefits more from an offseason acquisition at quarterback than Xavier Restrepo, who comes off his best season as (a) collegian with the Hurricanes. Restrepo dwarfed his previous career numbers with 85 catches for 1,092 yards and six scores, managing only the sixth 1,000-yard season by a pass-catcher in program history. Not only will his targets increase in this Air Raid scheme with Washington State's Cameron Ward penciled in as Miami's new starter at quarterback, but he should get more looks as a field-stretcher, too."

- Brad Crawford 247 Sports

The 85 receptions by Restrepo set a Miami single-season record. Restrepo enters the 2024 reason with the Miami career records for receptions and receiving yards within reach. Restrepo needs 51 receptions to tie Mike Harley for the Miami career record and 830 yards to reach Santana Moss' Miami yardage record.

There is room for Miami to improve creating big plays in the passing game in 2024. Miami was 35th with 129 completions of 10 or more yards in 2023, 39th with 48 completions of 20 or more yards, 71st with 18 completions of 30 or more yards and 37th with 12 completions of 40 or more yards.

Washington State was ranked higher than Miami in virtually every category of long pass completions. With Ward at QB and his ability to scramble, Miami should improve their ability to have more long pass completions in 2024. Restrepo is a WR to watch entering the 2024 season.