Miami Hurricanes' wide receiver, Xavier Restrepo, addressed the media today, shedding light on the team's recent struggles, his breakout season, and the upcoming clash against the formidable Clemson Tigers. In a candid conversation, Restrepo shared his thoughts on the challenges ahead and the importance of staying focused on self-improvement.
Learning from the Past:
The Hurricanes have recently faced two consecutive tough losses, a situation that they've found themselves in before. When asked about what they've learned from previous rough patches, Restrepo emphasized the need to focus on self-inflicted wounds.
He said, "I mean, honestly, you know, in the past, we've just dealt with it and just carried over. Now our main focus is on our self-inflicted wounds. Offense is top 10 in the country, and defense is doing a good job. It's just self-inflicted wounds like turnovers and penalties. We just got to focus on ourselves."
Xavier Restrepo's Breakout Year:
On a personal note, Restrepo is having a standout season and is on pace to break the school record for catches in a year with nearly 100 receptions. When asked about his view on this achievement, Restrepo humbly replied, "The first day I ever touched a football, it was always about getting better each and every single day. Yes, the ball's coming to me, but I honestly don't even really care about that. We just need to get back on this winning train and continue improving ourselves, on and off the field."
Elijah Arroyo’s Return:
The Hurricanes' offense is set to receive a boost with the return of tight end Elijah Aroyo. When asked about how Arroyo’s presence would impact the passing offense, Restrepo spoke highly of his teammate, saying, "Elijah is a great player. He's a really hard worker. Just glad that he's going to be on the field with us. He can block, catch, run routes fast, and he's a hard worker."
Facing Clemson's Defense:
Looking ahead to the matchup against Clemson, Restrepo acknowledged the challenge posed by their talented defense. He described Clemson as a "very talented team" that is "fast, athletic, big up front, and skilled in the back end." He emphasized that the key to success would be staying focused on themselves and trusting their offensive system.
Ending the Clemson Drought:
Miami has not beaten Clemson since 2010, a fact that looms large in the recent history of this matchup. However, Restrepo says the team is approaching this game with a "one game at a time" mentality. He said, "Every Saturday is any given Saturday, just like Any Given Sunday. We just got to come to play, and the best team that plays the best will win the game."
