RJ Harvey 2025 NFL Draft: Central Florida RB Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, a versatile running back you need to know is RJ Harvey. He’s a versatile RB from Central Florida with excellent vision and patience. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
RJ Harvey 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Harvey’s journey is a testament to adaptability and resilience. A local product from Orlando, Florida, Harvey starred at Edgewater High School as a dual-threat quarterback, showcasing his athleticism and playmaking ability. Rated as a three-star recruit in the 2019 class, he initially committed to the University of Virginia, drawn by the Cavaliers’ vision of utilizing his versatility. At UVA, Harvey redshirted his freshman year in 2019, spending time learning the quarterback position under then-head coach Bronco Mendenhall. However, seeking a bigger role and a return to his home state, he transferred to UCF in 2020.
At UCF, Harvey’s career took a pivotal turn. With a crowded quarterback room, coaches saw his 5’8”, 200-pound frame and explosive athletic traits as a perfect fit for running back—a position he’d dabbled in during high school but never fully embraced. The transition wasn’t immediate; he played sparingly in 2020 as he adjusted to the new role.
Unfortunately, in 2021, he suffered a torn ACL during fall camp. This sidelined him for the entire season and testing his determination. Undeterred, Harvey rehabbed diligently, returning in 2022 with a chip on his shoulder. As a result, a breakout trajectory followed: from a rotational piece in 2022 to an All-Big 12 caliber workhorse by 2024. His quarterback instincts—vision, decisiveness, and feel for the game—blended seamlessly with his new position, turning him into one of college football’s most dynamic rushers and UCF’s all-time leader in total touchdowns.
Overall, Harvey fits best in a Zone-heavy offensive scheme (e.g., Shanahan-style outside zone or spread-option schemes) that emphasizes speed, agility, and receiving ability out of the backfield. Other teams that fit this mold for him would be the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. Harvey will likely start his career as a change-of-pace RB2 with an RB1 upside if pass protection improves. All things considered, he’s likely a rotational piece early, thriving in offenses that spread the field and create one-on-one matchups.
HT: 5080
WT: 205
HAND: 928
ARM: 3138
40: 4.40
Strengths:
- Explosive Agility and Lateral Quickness: Harvey’s low center of gravity and twitchy footwork allow him to execute sharp jump cuts and evade defenders in tight spaces. His ability to redirect momentum mid-run makes him a nightmare for linebackers in the open field.
- Vision and Patience: Displays a quarterback’s feel for the game, reading blocks with precision and waiting for lanes to develop before bursting through. His patience sets up defenders, drawing them into gaps before he pivots to daylight.
- Contact Balance: Despite his smaller stature, Harvey absorbs contact well, often shrugging off arm tackles and maintaining forward momentum. His compact build and low pad level amplify his ability to power through traffic.
- Home-Run Speed: Harvey’s 4.4 speed takes over once he hits the second level. He consistently turns short gains into chunk plays, with a knack for outrunning angles and breaking away for scores.
- Receiving Upside: Soft hands and a natural feel for space as a pass-catcher. He was effective on wheel routes and screens, averaging over 11 yards per reception in his final two seasons.
Areas for Improvement:
- Pass Protection Deficiency: Harvey’s effort in pass blocking is evident, but his technique and anchor strength are underdeveloped. He struggles to sustain blocks against blitzing linebackers and lacks the punch to redirect larger defenders.
- Ball Security Concerns: Fumbled six times over the past two seasons (four lost), often due to overextending for extra yards or failing to secure the ball in traffic. This could limit trust from coaches early in his pro career.
- Size Limitations: At his size, Harvey lacks the ideal frame for a workhorse back. He may struggle to handle a high volume of inside runs against NFL defensive fronts.
- Over-Reliance on Bouncing Outside: Tends to hunt for the big play by bouncing runs to the perimeter, sometimes bypassing available yardage up the middle. This habit could lead to negative plays against faster, more disciplined NFL defenses.
Conclusion:
Harvey is a lightning bolt in a compact frame—a player who electrifies with the ball in his hands but comes with clear hurdles to get past the next level. His college tape screams “playmaker,” with a highlight reel full of jukes, breakaways, and tough yards after contact. However, NFL success will hinge on tightening up his ball security and proving he can handle the physicality of pro defenses in pass protection and between the tackles.
For a team willing to scheme around his strengths, Harvey could be a steal who outpaces his draft slot. Ultimately, he’s not a finished product. However, the raw talent is there to carve out a meaningful role.
Like Austin Ekeler, Harvey is an undersized, explosive back with a knack for finding the end zone and contributing as a receiver. Both share a high yards-per-carry average and a need to refine pass protection to maximize their roles. Look for Harvey in the later rounds of the highly anticipated 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Rec | Yds | TD |
| 2020* | UCF | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022* | UCF | 13 | 118 | 796 | 6.7 | 5 | 22 | 215 | 0 |
| 2023* | UCF | 13 | 226 | 1416 | 6.3 | 16 | 19 | 238 | 1 |
| 2024 | UCF | 12 | 232 | 1577 | *6.8* | *22* | 20 | 267 | 3 |
| Career | 41 | 579 | 3792 | 6.5 | 43 | 61 | 720 | 4 |
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