Knightly Review
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Orlando's hometown hero RJ Harvey will be a handful for every single AFC West team

RJ Harvey is going to be a dynamic running back in the Broncos' offensive scheme, making him a handful for the rest of the AFC.
ByEricka Brockish|
Sep 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

UCF officially has its first selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, and to the surprise of absolutely no Knights fan, RJ Harvey was the first one off the board. The Denver Broncos, after making numerous trades in the second round, selected Harvey with the 60th overall pick.

Harvey is heading to Mile High Stadium and will be worked into a Broncos offense that took a huge step forward last season behind rookie quarterback Bo Nix. The running back position was the biggest lack for the Broncos last season, so Harvey has a real opportunity to walk in and take over the position in his rookie season.

RJ Harvey heads West as the Denver Broncos make a sleeper pick

Harvey was known as a sleeper pick in a lot of mock drafts as a smaller running back who has elite speed and a great pass-catching ability. If you ask a UCF fan, Harvey is the greatest player on the planet, as he was often the hero in Orlando.

In the 2024 season, UCF took a serious turn for the worse as the Knights went just 4-8 on the season and 2-7 in the Big 12. The only true bright spot for the Knights was Harvey, who had 1,577 rushing yards, the most yards of any offensive player for the Knights, and 22 rushing touchdowns. Harvey also added three touchdowns in the air for 267 receiving yards.

The Broncos truly got a workhorse out of Harvey, and with the style of football that Sean Payton likes to play, Harvey is a perfect fit for their offense. Nix is not known as a long-pass type quarterback, so Harvey will be huge for short passes, which can then turn into big runs for the AFC West team on the rise.

Opposing AFC West teams will have a tough time keeping track of Harvey in the backfield, as his size can help him hide behind the offensive line until he finds a seam he can burst through to get to the second level.

Congratulations, Harvey, on being selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and let's remember that the Florida Gators and USF Bulls still have yet to have a player selected.

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