RJ Harvey: From College Standout to NFL Prospect

Robert "RJ" Harvey Jr., born on February 4, 2001, is an American professional football running back currently playing for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the NFL involved a successful college career with both the Virginia Cavaliers and the UCF Knights.

Early Years

Before his college career, Harvey made a name for himself at Edgewater High School.

College Career

Virginia Cavaliers

Harvey initially played for the Virginia Cavaliers. Later, he transferred to UCF.

UCF Knights

Harvey played for UCF for 4 seasons. As a Knight, Harvey truly shined, particularly after returning from an ACL tear.

2022 Season:

In 2022, Harvey appeared in 13 games with three starts. He earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors from Pro Football Network (PFN). During the season, he rushed 118 times for 796 yards and five touchdowns. He also recorded 22 receptions for 215 yards. Some of his notable performances from the 2022 season include:

Eight carries for 50 yards and 1 TD.
12 carries for 73 yards.
Led the team with 69 rushing yards on seven carries.
Rushed four times for 73 yards, including a 61-yard run (the longest of the season for Knights running backs).
Six carries for 32 yards and led the team with seven catches for 77 yards.
Tallied 84 yards on 14 carries and 2 TDs, including the game-winning touchdown from 17 yards out with 48 seconds remaining.
Career-high 151 yards on 17 carries, including a 61-yard run. He had 121 yards at halftime.
Ran a team-high-tying 16 times for 74 yards and 1 TD and also caught four passes for 14 yards.

2023 Season:

Harvey entered the 2023 season as UCF's top running back. Starting October 7 against Kansas, he achieved five consecutive games with over 100 rushing yards, marking the longest streak at the school since 2007. Against 15th-ranked Oklahoma State, Harvey ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns, contributing to UCF's 45-3 upset victory. He was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award as the best running back nationally. He also became the first UCF player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2018.

College Statistics Summary

Throughout his 4 seasons at UCF, RJ Harvey accumulated impressive statistics:

579 carries for 3,792 yards
61 catches for 720 yards
48 touchdowns

Professional Career

NFL Draft and Denver Broncos

RJ Harvey was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the NFL draft. Shortly after, he signed a deal with the team.

2025 Season

In his first game of the 2025 season, Harvey rushed the ball five times for eight yards. In the Broncos' loss to the Colts, he added one reception on two targets for 16 yards.

Player Profile

Harvey is considered a smaller running back, standing at 5-foot-8 and weighing 205 pounds. Despite his size, he is known for his tough playing style and productivity. Last season, he ran for 10-plus yards on a class-best 23% of his carries. Ahead of the draft, he showed well at the combine, including a 4.40 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical jump, and a 127-inch broad jump.

Read also: Your Guide to Olive-Harvey

Outlook

Harvey's landing spot with the Broncos is considered favorable, with J.K. Dobbins as his primary competition for carries. While the duo may split carries, Harvey has the potential to emerge as the primary receiving back, which could be valuable in a Sean Payton offense that often utilizes running backs in the passing game. Some analysts believe Harvey is a strong bench stash and can have productive games early in the season.

Read also: Harvey Mudd College Costs

tags: #RJ #Harvey #college #stats