2025 NFL Draft Profile: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

Pros:

Elite lateral quickness and jump-cut ability, consistently making defenders miss in tight spaces and creating yardage where none exists

Exceptional contact balance combined with low pad level, allowing him to bounce off initial contact and maintain momentum through traffic

Blazing speed and acceleration, demonstrated by his ability to hit home runs and outrun defensive backs in the open field

Displays advanced vision and patience, setting up blocks effectively and finding cutback lanes in zone schemes

Versatile skill set as both a runner and receiver, offering three-down potential with natural hands out of the backfield

Proven workhorse back with the durability to handle a heavy workload, consistently producing chunk plays throughout the season

Demonstrates excellent ball security, rarely putting the rock on the ground even in heavy traffic

Big-play threat on every touch, capable of taking it to the house from anywhere on the field with breakaway speed

Cons:

Undersized frame raises concerns about his ability to withstand the rigors of a full NFL season and handle pass protection duties

Can dance too much behind the line of scrimmage, leading to negative plays when he doesn’t hit the hole with decisiveness

Significant liability in pass protection, struggling to anchor against blitzing linebackers and pick up complex pressure packages

Limited experience as a bell-cow back in a Power 5 conference, raising questions about his ability to handle a feature role

Lacks ideal power to consistently move the pile in short-yardage situations or break tackles from NFL-caliber defenders

Summary:

RJ Harvey offers an exciting combination of elite speed and elusiveness, making him an attractive prospect for teams seeking to inject explosiveness into their backfield. His ability to create in space and contribute in the passing game aligns well with modern NFL offenses, particularly those utilizing zone-blocking schemes.

However, Harvey’s slender frame and limitations in pass protection may hinder his immediate impact. Initially, he profiles as a change-of-pace back, but has the potential to expand his role if he can, improve his blocking skills and demonstrate durability with increased touches.