Early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RJ Harvey, UCF

The UCF offense focused on senior RB RJ Harvey’s back-to-back big seasons. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft early scouting report and film analysis on him.

Overview, film analysis and early 2025 NFL Draft scouting report from UCF RB RJ Harvey

Measured variables:

Player background:

RJ Harvey finished his high school career at Edgewater HS in Florida as a three-star quarterback prospect. He graduated during the 2019 recruiting cycle and committed to the Virginia Cavaliers. He redshirted his freshman season in 2019 and appeared in zero contests.

He entered the transfer portal as a running back and decided to return to Florida with UCF. He played in 10 games for the Knights in 2020, rushing for three yards only three times and spending most of his time on special teams. Before his 2021 season could begin, he suffered an injury in preseason camp and was unable to return to any of the team’s games this year.

Despite only starting three games in 2022, Harvey racked up a solid 796 rushing yards and 215 receiving yards and scored five times on the ground. He made his breakthrough at the top of the team in 2023, finishing third in the Big 12 with 1,416 rushing yards. He also scored a total of 18 touchdowns in just 10 games. His final college season could be his best, as he rushed for over 1,300 yards and 21 total touchdowns with two games left.

Awards:

• Doak Walker Award semifinalist (2023)
• College Football Network First Team All-Big 12 (2023)
• Pro Football Network Second Team All-AAC (2022)

Strengths/Advantages:

Harvey’s lateral quickness and quickness are easily his best attributes as an NFL prospect. He absorbs runs well to the edge of the field and can extend plays and use quick movements to cause defenders to miss shots. His feet are extremely quick and twitchy, allowing him to make many different moves against tacklers. He has a very low center of gravity, which allows him to bounce off tackles and stutter past defenders. Harvey combines these skills with solid long-range speed and the ability to break off massive runs once he’s in space.

He provides good contact balance during leg movements and maintains forward momentum to continue gaining yards. Because he has a lighter back, Harvey slips through smaller holes on the offensive line. Once he has a trail, it’s difficult to bring him down and he just flies downwards. He offers some advantages as a receiver, as he can accelerate well out of the backfield and displays good hands. He is able to find his way into the available space at high speed and glides after the catch.

Weaknesses/Disadvantages:

Much of what makes Harvey an elite college RB becomes a detriment as he moves on in the NFL. His tendency to stretch the field horizontally and get around defenses won’t work against most NFL teams. The big wins that made him so exciting as a player will turn into crucial losses at the next level. He doesn’t have the physicality to play as a vertical defender, and therefore his home run threat will be lower.

Ball security issues have plagued Harvey in his three years as a major producer, making a few mistakes at various points. He has a hard time creating runs in the backfield, showing excessive patience and failing to hit some lanes when they open up. His pass blocking skills are below average and he gets bullied too often in the backfield. His vision and awareness of incoming pass rushers needs improvement, and he gets knocked down a lot.

Potential team fits:

NFL projection:

RJ Harvey is an electrifying college running back whose lateral skills make him a threat to any defense. As far as the NFL goes, however, he’ll likely be limited to a change-of-pace role wherever he goes. His smaller frame and reliance on bouncing outdoor runs doesn’t mesh well with the game play at the pro level. He works well enough through gaps and has the combination of top speed and footwork to fill a rotational role in an offense.

Prospect’s note:

• Late 4th round to early 5th round

Film exposures:

• 2024 vs. BYU
• 2024 vs. TCU
• 2023 against Oklahoma State

Main photo courtesy of Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images