The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo plans on taking full advantage. Restrepo recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Restrepo also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his abilities as a route-runner, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Restrepo better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Xavier Restrepo: I was in the middle of attending classes, actually. The president of Miami Hurricanes football Joe Echevarria handed me the Reese’s Senior Bowl box with my invite sitting inside. It was awesome. I couldn’t wait to tell my parents.
JM: That’s an incredible story. What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Xavier Restrepo: I’m well aware of the history of the Senior Bowl. So many great names have graced that field. I honestly couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
JM: Getting a bit more specific, what are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Xavier Restrepo: I want to prove that investing a draft pick in me will be the smartest decision they’ve ever made. I’m somebody that really loves football. Nobody on that field loves football more than I do. I mean that. I stand on that statement.
I just want them to understand that I’m not a limited player. I’m the complete package as a receiver. I could block. I run short, intermediate, and deep routes. I’m a run-after-catch guy as well. I do a little bit of everything.
JM: Sticking with that topic, if you were writing your own scouting report, how would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself for me.
Xavier Restrepo: I’m as consistent as consistent gets. I’m reliable. When the team needs to make a play, just call my number. I say that humbly. At the end of the day, I just want an offensive coordinator to know I can execute everything in the playbook. You don’t need to create packages for me. I can get open on whatever the offense calls.
JM: Speaking of routes, does Xavier Restrepo have a favorite route to run?
Xavier Restrepo: I like running routes that result in touchdowns (laughs). All kidding aside, I don’t have a specific route that comes to mind. I can run the entire route tree. It’s artistic, you know? There’s so much that goes into it. There’s nobody that loves football more than me.
I love every single route in the route tree. There’s 30 different ways to run every single route. That’s a tough question I’ve been thinking about for the past 10 years of my life (laughs). I like all of the routes.
JM: You took a huge step forward this season, recording career-highs in receiving yards (1,127) and touchdowns (11). You became the first Miami receiver ever to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. What do you think that shows NFL evaluators?
Xavier Restrepo: There have been a lot of great names that have come through The University of Miami and I’m fortunate to call many of them mentors. They all tell me the same thing, that I was destined to take this path at Miami. I’ve put the work in.
It’s been a long journey. Nothing was given to me. I’ve worked for everything. I broke my foot during my sophomore year. I’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations. I’ve persevered through it all.
JM: You had more receiving yards this year with fewer receptions. You averaged a career-high 16.3 yards per catch. Where did the explosive plays come from?
Xavier Restrepo: I’m as healthy as I’ve ever been. I’m not going to make any excuses, but last season was the first year after my broken foot injury. I was just trying to get my feet back under me and get through the season. Being two years removed, I felt better. I went super hard this past offseason.
I’m as healthy as I’ve ever been in my career right now. I played with a ton of confidence. When you have a playmaker like Cam Ward at quarterback, it leads to more explosive opportunities in the passing game.
JM: If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL receiver, who would you choose and why?
Xavier Restrepo: If I can mix and match, I think my closest comparison is Amon-Ra St. Brown. We’re not the biggest guys, but we both get after it in all phases of the game. He’s an amazing receiver. Just like him, I feel like route-running sets me apart. I have a high football IQ.
Hearing Amon-Ra St. Brown speak, he’s such an advanced player. I also feel like my second-level release packages help me create separation. As a sure-handed guy, I love Puka Nacua as well. He uses his entire body to make every single grab. Those names come to mind.
JM: I love those comps. Fun question before we let you go. What’s on Xavier Restrepo’s pre-game playlist?
Xavier Restrepo: My playlist is a little bit different (laughs). I listen to country music before games. It calms me down. Country music helps settle my mindset. Obviously, if it’s a rivalry game, I might put on some Kodak Black. I’m from South Florida, so I grew up on Kodak Black.
I’m a big country music guy first and foremost though. Luke Combs, stuff like that.
JM: This has been awesome. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Xavier Restrepo?
Xavier Restrepo: I’m going to give everything I have. I’m going to approach every single drill with that mindset. I don’t want to leave anything on the table. I don’t want to leave Mobile with any regrets. I’m going to pour everything I have into it, everything I’ve been training for.
I’m excited to showcase my talent.
