Xavier Restrepo came to Miami as a fringey three-star prospect. He left as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Restrepo turned a stellar college career into a shot at the pros; the Tennessee Titans signed him as an undrafted free agent on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move reunites him with top pick Cam Ward.
Restrepo burst onto the South Florida football scene as a sophomore at Monarch High. He transferred to powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas for his junior year, then wrapped up his high school career at Deerfield Beach. Restrepo earned All-County first-team honors as a senior.
Restrepo played seven games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, making one catch for 12 yards. He was solid in 2021 and 2022, racking up 613 yards and four touchdowns in 19 games after an injury-shortened his 2022 campaign.
He got a full season as Miami’s starting slot receiver in 2023, and he established himself as one of the best at the position. Restrepo racked up 1,092 yards and scored six times. He earned All-ACC first-team honors for his strong season.
Restrepo outdid his strong 2023 season last year. He became the first UM receiver to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, finishing the year with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. Restrepo set the all-time program records for receptions (200) and receiving yards (2,844) during his final college season. For his efforts, he was named an All-American.
“He means the world to the program, and the program means the world to him,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “He is the epitome of hard work.”
Although Restrepo went late in the draft, Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said last year he would be a hard player to cut from a roster.
“I would say that if he’s on your team in camp, he’s going to be on your team when the season starts,” Dawson said. “It’s going to be hard to cut him because he’s going to work hard every day. He’s going to make plays. He might not look a certain way, he might not run a 40 the way you typically are wanting him to run. But if he’s on your squad Day 1, he’s going to be hard to cut because he’s going to be that guy every day.”
Originally Published: April 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM EDT
