Cam Ward is smiling a lot these days. The Tennessee Titans’ rookie quarterback, who was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, has plenty of reasons to be excited. But if you ask him to pinpoint one moment that made him feel right at home in the NFL, it wasn’t hearing his name called on draft night or even suiting up for his first minicamp session. It was seeing a familiar face — and an old friend — walk into the facility just a few weeks later.
That friend is Xavier Restrepo.
The Titans snagged Restrepo in the later rounds of the draft, reuniting the dynamic duo that helped light up the college football world. It’s a storyline that seems almost scripted — two brothers in arms, thrown into the fire together at the collegiate level, now getting another shot to build something special at the next level.
For Ward, the reunion is more than just sentimental. It’s personal. It’s motivating. And, most of all, it’s grounding.
“X is my guy,” Ward said during rookie minicamp. “We came up together, went through the grind, the battles, the ups and downs of college football. To be here with him in Tennessee? Man, it’s a blessing. It just feels right.”
Their chemistry was undeniable in college. At Miami, where both transferred after previous stints elsewhere — Ward from Washington State and Restrepo as a holdover from the Manny Diaz era — the pair clicked immediately. Ward’s big arm and Restrepo’s quick-twitch routes became a staple of the Hurricanes’ offense. They connected on dozens of crucial plays, especially on third downs and in red zone situations. When Ward needed a go-to target, he often looked to No. 7 — and more often than not, Restrepo delivered.
It wasn’t always pretty. The offensive line at Miami had its struggles, the team was navigating a coaching transition, and expectations were sky-high. But the connection between quarterback and receiver kept the offense afloat and gave the Hurricanes hope in every game. There were moments — like the last-second touchdown to beat Clemson or the late-game drive to tie things up against Florida State — where Ward to Restrepo felt automatic. Inevitable, even.
Now, the Titans are hoping that same chemistry can translate to Sundays.
And the timing couldn’t be better. Tennessee is undergoing a transition of its own. With a new coaching staff in place and a revamped offense being installed, there’s an open competition at wide receiver behind established starters. While Restrepo wasn’t drafted to be WR1, he fits a niche that modern NFL teams crave — a slot receiver with great hands, crisp route-running, and an innate ability to find soft spots in zone coverage. It’s the kind of role where rapport with the quarterback can make all the difference.
“Anytime you can come in and already have that kind of bond with your QB, it gives you a leg up,” Titans head coach Brian Callahan said. “Xavier’s a smart player. He knows where to be and when to be there. Cam trusts him. That goes a long way in this league.”
Ward echoed that sentiment, noting that having someone who understands his rhythm and style of play gives him a sense of comfort, especially as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL game.
“There’s already that trust built,” Ward said. “I know how he runs his routes, he knows how I see the field. When the bullets start flying and things get crazy out there, it’s nice to have a guy you don’t even have to think about. You just know he’s going to be there.”
Restrepo, ever the grinder, downplayed the reunion at first — at least publicly.
“I’m just here to work,” Restrepo said when asked about joining Ward in Tennessee. “Cam’s my brother, and of course I’m hyped to play with him again. But we both know nothing’s handed to you in this league. We’ve got to earn it every day.”
That workmanlike mentality has always been Restrepo’s trademark. Undersized by traditional NFL standards, he’s made a career out of proving people wrong. Coaches rave about his film study, his leadership in the locker room, and his relentless drive to improve. Teammates respect him because he never takes a play off — in practice or in games. And for Ward, that effort is part of what made Restrepo his favorite target in college.
“He brings the juice every day,” Ward said. “There were days at Miami where we’d be dragging, coming off a tough loss or just grinding through a long week, and X would be the one keeping everyone locked in. He’s got that dog in him. He’s a competitor, and he’s going to push you to be better.”
The Titans’ coaching staff has already taken note of that edge. While the transition from college to the NFL is steep — especially for late-round rookies — Restrepo’s professionalism and attention to detail have made an impression.
“He’s always asking questions, staying late, getting extra reps,” said Titans receivers coach Rob Moore. “He’s not the biggest or the fastest, but he understands leverage, spacing, timing. And when you add in the connection he’s got with Cam, it gives us something to build on.”
Ward, for his part, isn’t shying away from the expectations that come with being a rookie quarterback in the NFL. He knows the transition will be tough. The defenses are faster, the playbooks more complex, and the margin for error much smaller. But having someone like Restrepo around — someone who knows his language, his process, and his leadership style — brings a level of familiarity that’s hard to replicate.
“Being a rookie in this league is humbling,” Ward admitted. “You go from being the man in college to starting over again. But having X here — it’s like bringing a piece of home with me. It keeps me grounded.”
The duo has already spent extra time after practice working on routes, timing, and red zone scenarios. It’s not uncommon to see them walking off the field together long after the rest of the team has hit the showers. Ward says they’re just picking up where they left off.
“We’ve always had that mindset — keep grinding, keep growing,” he said. “We’re not here just to be here. We want to make plays, help this team win, and bring some excitement to Nashville.”
The Titans, coming off a rebuilding year, are hoping that this youth movement — spearheaded by Ward, Restrepo, and other rookies — can inject new energy into the franchise. While veterans like DeAndre Hopkins provide leadership and star power, there’s a sense within the organization that the long-term future of the team will hinge on how quickly its young core develops.
Ward and Restrepo, with their history and shared journey, are uniquely positioned to lead that charge.
“It’s a fresh start for this team, and we’re part of that next wave,” Ward said. “We’ve got a chance to build something from the ground up. That’s exciting. And doing it with someone you trust, someone who’s been in the foxhole with you before — that makes it even more special.”
For Restrepo, the NFL dream has always been about more than stats or accolades. It’s about competing at the highest level, earning respect, and showing he belongs. And while the reunion with Ward is a bonus, he knows they still have to prove themselves all over again.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” he said. “This is just the next chapter. Nothing’s guaranteed, but we’re going to keep working like we always have. Keep fighting, keep pushing, and leave it all out there.”
It’s that mindset — the shared hunger, the relentless pursuit of greatness — that defines both players. They aren’t just teammates. They’re brothers. And now, as Titans, they’re ready to bring that same fire to the NFL.
So when Cam Ward takes the field in Tennessee — whether in a preseason game, a regular-season start, or a two-minute drill at practice — he’ll know exactly where to look when he needs a play. And somewhere downfield, wearing that navy and Titans blue, Xavier Restrepo will be waiting, just like he always has.
