MIAMI — Miami star receiver Xavier Restrepo has sustained a foot injury that will sideline him indefinitely, according to multiple sources.
The No. 13 Hurricanes (2-0) are scheduled to leave Friday for their first road trip to face No. 24 Texas A&M (1-1) in College Station, where a Kyle Field crowd of up to 102,000 Aggies fans are set to watch the game that kicks off at 9 p.m. (Eastern time) and will be nationally televised.
University of Miami sports information did not immediately respond to a request on Thursday about Restrepo’s status. It is unknown how long he will be unable to play.
Restrepo, a 5-10, 195-pound third-year sophomore out of Deerfield Beach High, is unquestionably the young man coach Mario Cristobal has praised as much, and probably more, than any other Hurricanes player since Cristobal took over as coach in December.
Restrepo, who plays in the slot, is the only UM wideout with more than 100 yards receiving in two games. He had five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Sept. 3 opener against Bethune-Cookman and six catches for 72 yards last week against Southern Miss.
Restrepo spoke to reporters on Tuesday after practice about the Texas A&M game, so the injury likely was sustained Wednesday.
“The entire receivers group is doing awesome,’’ Restrepo told reporters. “They’re getting better day by day on Greentree.’’
Restrepo is quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s close friend and roommate. Van Dyke called him his “security blanket” before the season.
UM’s record-breaking receivers Charleston Rambo and Mike Harley departed after last season, leaving Restrepo as clearly the top performer and overall team leader to pick up the slack on a receiving corps with plenty of youth but limited production. The receivers were plagued with drops throughout fall camp until only a few days before the season began.
Behind Restrepo is sophomore Brashard Smith, with six catches for 65 yards, followed by Michael Redding III, with five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Outside receiver Key’Shawn Smith had 49 yards and a touchdown on three catches last week.
Smith, a 5-10, 196-pound sophomore out of Miami Palmetto High, could be a possible replacement for Restrepo.
