Key losses - none
Top returners - RJ Harvey, 6th year (5-9/205, 14 career starts at UCF), Johnny Richardson, 5th year (5-7/175, 9 career starts at UCF)
Key additions - Peny Boone, 5th year (6-1/240, transfer from Toledo), Myles Montgomery, RS Jr. (5-11/205, transfer from Cincinnati), Stacy Gage, Fr. (5-11/210, four-star RB from 2024 class)
This room is absolutely loaded. No homerism here, this RB group is one of the strongest in the conference (and stacks up rather solidly against most other running back collectives across the country). In Harvey, UCF returns a Doak Walker semi-finalist from '23 who rushed for over 1,400 yards to go along with 16 TD's. According to UCF, Harvey's career 6.3 yards per carry average ranks third among active collegiate running backs in the country. There's no question that Harvey will once again represent the focal point of the offense for the Knights in 2024, but there's a lot of depth behind him as well.
It was once widely believed that Harvey would move on from UCF this past offseason. Instead, the Knights were fortunate enough to welcome Harvey back, as well as add another serious weapon to their running game. Boone transferred to UCF for his final year of eligibility, bringing with him a MAC Player of the Year award from '23. Last season, Boone led the MAC in rushing (1,400 yards), ranked third in the country in YPC (7.22), and found the end zone 15 times. At 240 pounds, Boone is expected to take some of the goal line punishment off Harvey's shoulders this upcoming season (as will KJ Jefferson). In Harvey and Boone, UCF will unquestionably boast one of the top running back tandems in the country this season.
And if all of that production is not enough to mention, UCF also returns a fifth-year back in Richardson (who has struggled at times to find consistent playing time/a consistent role during his tenure at UCF, but is always a threat to break-off a big play with his elite speed). Even in a complementary role, Richardson has amassed 2,739 all-purpose yards as a Knight (nearly half of those yards coming in 2021). Montgomery (Jacksonville native, 548 career yards and 4 TD's at Cincinnati before transferring) will provide depth and insurance for UCF at running back as well.
Of course, Gage (four-star RB from Tampa, FL) represents the future for UCF at the running back position, but I would count on him likely redshirting this season. With so much experience in front of Gage, I just don't see the true freshmen playing a significant role for the Knights in 2024.
Prior Positional Previews:
Defensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-defensive-line.117479/
Offensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-offensive-line.117554/
Linebacker - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-linebackers.117648/
Top returners - RJ Harvey, 6th year (5-9/205, 14 career starts at UCF), Johnny Richardson, 5th year (5-7/175, 9 career starts at UCF)
Key additions - Peny Boone, 5th year (6-1/240, transfer from Toledo), Myles Montgomery, RS Jr. (5-11/205, transfer from Cincinnati), Stacy Gage, Fr. (5-11/210, four-star RB from 2024 class)
This room is absolutely loaded. No homerism here, this RB group is one of the strongest in the conference (and stacks up rather solidly against most other running back collectives across the country). In Harvey, UCF returns a Doak Walker semi-finalist from '23 who rushed for over 1,400 yards to go along with 16 TD's. According to UCF, Harvey's career 6.3 yards per carry average ranks third among active collegiate running backs in the country. There's no question that Harvey will once again represent the focal point of the offense for the Knights in 2024, but there's a lot of depth behind him as well.
It was once widely believed that Harvey would move on from UCF this past offseason. Instead, the Knights were fortunate enough to welcome Harvey back, as well as add another serious weapon to their running game. Boone transferred to UCF for his final year of eligibility, bringing with him a MAC Player of the Year award from '23. Last season, Boone led the MAC in rushing (1,400 yards), ranked third in the country in YPC (7.22), and found the end zone 15 times. At 240 pounds, Boone is expected to take some of the goal line punishment off Harvey's shoulders this upcoming season (as will KJ Jefferson). In Harvey and Boone, UCF will unquestionably boast one of the top running back tandems in the country this season.
And if all of that production is not enough to mention, UCF also returns a fifth-year back in Richardson (who has struggled at times to find consistent playing time/a consistent role during his tenure at UCF, but is always a threat to break-off a big play with his elite speed). Even in a complementary role, Richardson has amassed 2,739 all-purpose yards as a Knight (nearly half of those yards coming in 2021). Montgomery (Jacksonville native, 548 career yards and 4 TD's at Cincinnati before transferring) will provide depth and insurance for UCF at running back as well.
Of course, Gage (four-star RB from Tampa, FL) represents the future for UCF at the running back position, but I would count on him likely redshirting this season. With so much experience in front of Gage, I just don't see the true freshmen playing a significant role for the Knights in 2024.
Prior Positional Previews:
Defensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-defensive-line.117479/
Offensive Line - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-offensive-line.117554/
Linebacker - https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/threads/2024-position-preview-linebackers.117648/
