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UCF running back
RJ Harvey has unfinished business.
The Orlando native is coming off one of the best seasons in school history, rushing for 1,416 yards which ranks No. 3 all-time behind
Kevin Smith (2,567 yards in 2007) and
Marquette Smith (1,566 yards in 1995).
Harvey contemplated declaring for the NFL Draft, but he recently made the decision to come back for one more year and he has a Big 12 Championship in his sights.
"I felt like I left some things on the field," Harvey said. "There is more I can show and prove to the NFL. We went 6-7. That was in my mind too. I don't want to go out like that. I want to win."
The losing record stung.
"To me and the older guys, that was embarrassing," Harvey said. "I felt we had a better team than that. I'm going to step up more as a leader vocally and show by my actions to take that next step."
In regards to areas of improvement, Harvey says he can become a better pass blocker in addition to getting a little faster.
UCF returns many key pieces offensively and plugged holes with proven transfers. That includes the quarterback position with
KJ Jefferson, who was a three-year starter at Arkansas.
"I'm very excited," Harvey said. "KJ brings a lot. He's experienced in the SEC and will have a lot of weapons surrounding him. I think our offense will be unstoppable."
What is Harvey's expectation for 2024?
"Winning every game," he said. "That's the expectation. Our main goal is to win every game."
Here's more from Harvey's recent press appearance, which included podium comments and one-on-one interviews.
On the return of
Tim Harris Jr. as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Harris had been Harvey's running backs coach at UCF from 2021-22:
"Coach Harris was a great guy when he was my coach," Harvey said. "The receivers are really going to love him. He's a great mentor and a great person to learn from. I'm excited that he's back."
On the strength of running backs in the Big 12, especially with players like
Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State,)
Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech) and
Devin Neal (Kansas) returning as well:
"It's an elite conference," Harvey said of the Big 12. "Every team has a great running back. I've got step my game up and show I'm better than every other running back in the conference."
There have been various media lists circulating recently regarding running backs and often times RJ Harvey has been omitted. He was also not included on the All-Big 12 first or second teams, which included four running backs ahead of him. Does it bother him being snubbed?
"It does get under my skin sometimes, but most of the time when I'm commenting on Twitter I'm just playing around," Harvey said. "I'm just joking about it. I know I'm better than the guys they put on those lists. This season I'm trying to get better. Just win. That's another reason too I'm not on those lists. We went 6-7. I understand that. If I want my name on there, we've got to win."
Harvey came up as a quarterback through high school at Edgewater. The reason he signed with Virginia was for the opportunity to play quarterback. When they wanted to move him to running back following his first season, Harvey transferred to UCF (Heupel staff had recruited him as a running back).
Harvey just wrapped up his second full season as starting running back (he missed 2021 with a knee injury). At what point did he feel like a running back and not a quarterback trying to play running back?
"Like halfway through the season last year," Harvey said. "That's probably when I felt comfortable being a running back. When I first got here, and some of the running backs could tell you, I didn't know how to take a hand-off. It's crazy. But I was a quarterback. This year I was confident in everything that I did. I felt like I left a lot on the table though. I could have had more yards and protected the football better."
The Oklahoma State game was Harvey's best of the season. Much of the pregame hype surrounded OSU running back Ollie Gordon II, but it was Harvey that dominated the game with 206 yards and three touchdowns (Gordon rushed for just 25 yards).
"The whole week, my teammates and coaches were saying, 'You're gonna have a big game this week.' I had a great week of practice. I was focused. I knew it was a big game. I went out there and just did what I did."
Harvey went into a little more detail on his 92-yard touchdown run.
"When I passed the safety, I think he dove for my legs and missed, when I passed him I'm like, I gotta go! There was nothing but green grass. Somebody was chasing behind me, so I was looking up at the (video) board seeing how far he was behind me."
Harvey said it wasn't the first time he's utilized the video board to gauge how far he was from a defender so he could adjust running angles if needed.
"Any time I'm running that direction when I'm in open grass," Harvey said. "I think it was the Kent State game. JR threw a seam route to me. I was open and it went like 50-something yards. I was looking up at the board then. There was a guy right behind me. That board definitely helps."
Harvey spoke a bit more about KJ Jefferson, his early relationship with him and how he helped to recruit him to UCF:
"KJ is funny," Harvey said. "Great dude. He proved he was a great quarterback at Arkansas. He brings experience and knowledge. I feel it's going to be his best year in this UCF offense. Me and him, we got cool. I was here when he visited. We hung out and talked. Eventually he told me he was gonna commit here."
Harvey knew KJ was the perfect fit for what UCF wants to do.
"I remember when he first got in the portal," Harvey said. "As soon as I saw it on Twitter, I sent it to Coach Kam (Martin) and said, 'This is the guy right there.' Coach Kam was like, 'We're already on it.' Everything worked out."
Harvey also helped to recruit other transfers.
"I helped recruit KJ,
Myles (Montgomery), basically the whole Cincinnati crew. They're all dogs.
(Deshawn) Pace and
(Bryon) Threats, I love how they play. I've played against Pace and his bro (
Ivan Pace). When Pace got in the portal, I commented under one of his posts to come to UCF. All three came on a visit at the same time.
"(Pace and Threats) are gonna bring energy. I feel like they're nasty. They're not afraid to come down and hit or cover. I remember during the Cincinnati game last year, Pace got me pretty good. He was talking a little bit. I was talking back too."
The interview was a couple days prior to the Big 12 schedule release, so we knew the opponents but not the dates. Harvey said he was excited to play against the former PAC teams. He also said this when I asked about getting a shot at Florida in the Swamp.
"That's exciting," Harvey said. "I'm pretty sure everybody that plays football in high school dreams of playing for Florida or against them. That's gonna be a great atmosphere to go up to Florida and beat up on them."
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