UCF Running Back RJ Harvey tested top 7 in his positional group across all of the Combine events that he participated in, showcasing enough athleticism for teams to keep him on their boards come draft night.
At 5’8” and 205 lbs, RJ Harvey is one of the smallest running backs in this draft class. He does, however, utilize his compact build and 76th percentile BMI to the fullest on the field. Harvey really needed to impress at the combine to help stand out in this crowded cohort of backs, and I would argue that he did just that. Harvey posted the 4th fastest 40-yard-dash time at 4.40 and was top 6 in the broad jump, shuttle and bench press. He also had an impressive (for his build) 38” vert, tying Omarion Hampton.
Harvey has plenty of ups and downs in his prospect profile. Aside from height, he is also one of the oldest backs in this class, and while he produced at the collegiate level, UCF hasn’t faced the highest level of competition. On the flip side, he produced at the collegiate level and came up big against ranked opponents — 101 rushing yards vs Oklahoma and 206 yards vs Oklahoma State in 2023, 196 yards vs Iowa State and 127 against BYU in 2024. He rushed for 1,416 yards in 2023 and then posted 1,577 rushing yards in 2024. While Harvey’s most likely outcome in the NFL is a committee back, he does have a strikingly similar prospect profile to successful backs like Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice. As long as draft capital and landing spot aren’t terrible, I’ll be taking shots on RJ Harvey in the later rounds of Dynasty rookie drafts this year.
Author: Lukasz Stec (@Lukasz_FF01)
