The Kansas City Chiefs must add some talent to their running back room in the offseason. Three of their five running backs hit free agency at the end of the season, and the current room lacks the diverse skill sets to maximize the offense’s potential.
UCF Knights running back R.J. Harvey is 5’9″, 208 lbs., which puts him in the same range as former Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon. Harvey is a fleet-footed runner with the long speed to score from anywhere on the field. According to Reel Analytics, he reached 20.8 miles per hour on a touchdown against Colorado earlier this year.
Harvey lacks the traditional size to create between the tackles, but his sudden and explosive footwork helps him exchange gaps in an instant and evade defenders in the backfield. Most defenders lack the agility and burst to match his jump cuts and acceleration.
UCF’s RJ Harvey is fantastic at finding ways to separate in tight windows pic.twitter.com/qbsHgx9nqD
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) October 24, 2024
Harvey shakes and jukes past defenders in one-on-one situations as he races to bounce runs outside. Once he turns upfield, Harvey accelerates to erase pursuit angles and put linebackers and safeties in chase mode.
Harvey’s combination of track speed, explosive agility, instant acceleration and controlled footwork makes him an ideal change of pace back in the NFL.
UCF goes on the road to face the 6-2 Arizona State Sun Devils at 6:00 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 9. Harvey rushed for 507 yards and seven touchdowns in his last three appearances. He enters Week 11 of the college football season with the third-most rushing yards in the nation.