Tag: RJ Harvey

Chiefs scouting report: UCF Knights RB R.J. Harvey

The Kansas City #Chiefs should look to target a player like UCF #Knights running back R.J. Harvey in the 2025 NFL draft.

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.

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.

5 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners victory over Kansas

Can the Oklahoma Sooners extend their winning streak over Kansas on Saturday? Here are our five keys to the game.

On Saturday, No. 6 Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0) will take on Lance Leipold’s [autotag]Kansas Jayhawks[/autotag] (5-2, 2-2) for the final time as Big 12 foes.

Oklahoma needs to play a much better game on Saturday than they did against the UCF Knights. They looked to be sleepwalking through the game at times and could have been more crisp on offense. The offensive line had its worst game of the season in pass protection, and until the fourth quarter, the Sooners couldn’t expose a lousy run defense.

Defensively, two busted plays defined the day, as both led to UCF touchdowns. Those plays aside, it was an excellent day for an Oklahoma defense that continues to show improvement.

Kansas will present another challenge for this revitalized Oklahoma defense. The Sooners D continues to make opposing offenses look outmatched at times. Aside from the occasional busts in coverages, this unit is much better than the one that Kansas saw in Norman last year when Kansas quarterback Jason Bean threw four touchdowns.

The Jayhawks have two solid running backs, Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. They are as explosive as teams get and will provide Oklahoma with a challenge.

Ultimately, the Sooners still hold advantages at multiple spots. With their lackluster performance from UCF behind them, the Sooners should come out on fire.

The Jayhawks surely won’t go down without a fight, and Brent Venables will make sure the team knows that.

Kansas hasn’t beaten OU since 1997. The Sooners have won the last 18 matchups between the two sides. But what are the keys to Oklahoma closing out the 100-year series with a win? Here are this week’s keys to the game.

Report Card: Sooners sleepwalk on offense in UCF scare

Oklahoma took on UCF for the first time Saturday. UCF hung tough but the Sooners pulled it out late. Here is this week’s report card.

Saturday’s performance was an aberration for Team 129. The team we saw on Saturday was eerily reminiscent of the team that took the field 13 times last season to not-so-fun results. Yet, they knuckled up and found a way when it mattered most.

If we’re being honest, last year’s team would not have won that game. But despite the miserable team performance, it never felt like they wouldn’t make the necessary plays to win. That is a true testament to the wholesale changes in mentality, effort, talent, and coaching from last year to 2023.

Let’s get to the bottom line here with the dust settled. Oklahoma won, but it might have been the worst they looked on offense all year. It’s time to pass out grades in this week’s report card.

Five Takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 31-29 win over the UCF Knights

Oklahoma pulled out a nailbiter as they hung on to beat UCF 31-29 in Norman on Saturday. Here are our five takeaways from the game.

Oklahoma escaped by the skin of its teeth on Saturday as they downed Big 12 newcomer UCF 31-29. It was a game that came down to the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

Considering how well Oklahoma has looked all season, it was a jarring performance. Especially after the Sooners had a bye week to put the Texas win behind them. Yet, on Saturday, after a relatively solid start, a pair of missed field goals kept the door open for UCF to run through. Before long, Oklahoma was fighting for its life and the right to stay undefeated.

When the dust cleared, the Sooners came out on top. A late surge in the fourth quarter was enough for Brent Venables’ team to get it done.

Here are five takeaways from the Sooners’ win.

Keys to Victory: Oklahoma has to stop the run vs. UCF’s elite rushing attack

Oklahoma will take on UCF Saturday for the first time ever. How will the Sooners fare against the Big 12 newcomers? Here are 5 keys to a win

Saturday’s first-ever matchup between UCF and Oklahoma will be exciting. Storylines will focus on former Knights turned Sooners Dillon Gabriel and Jeff Lebby. Oklahoma is playing its first game since their season-altering win against Texas. The Sooners are first in the Big 12 standings. They are in a prime position to win out and punch their ticket to Arlington to play for one final Big 12 title.

Their ascension up the Big 12 mountain continues, with UCF making the trip to Norman.

UCF isn’t a team Oklahoma can go through the motions with and expect to win. The Sooners are ranked in the top 10 and are the target for teams wanting to spoil Oklahoma’s Big 12 and College Football Playoff push.

How does Oklahoma avoid a colossal letdown in front of what should be a packed house on Saturday? We’ve covered it in our keys to the game for an Oklahoma victory.

Knights to know ahead of UCF vs. Oklahoma Sooners

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on UCF, here are six Knights to know ahead of the week 8 contest.

Fresh off its bye week, Oklahoma is readying for the remainder of the season. After six games, it sits atop the Big 12 standings with a 3-0 conference record.

The Sooners have had time to put their win over Texas behind them and come down from that emotional roller coaster. Brent Venables has done a good job keeping this team focused on what comes next. He will have to do it again as Oklahoma prepares to host the UCF Knights on Saturday.

UCF is the second of three Big 12 newcomers the Sooners will see this season. Oklahoma knocked off Cincinnati in its Big 12 opener and will face BYU on the second to last weekend of the regular season.

The Sooners and Knights have never played. So Saturday’s showdown will be a new experience for both. UCF also enters the game off its bye week. Before that, it was on the wrong end of a blowout by the Kansas Jayhawks, 51-22. Kansas ran for 399 yards in the win.

As the Oklahoma Sooners get ready to play the UCF Knights, here are five players to know ahead of Saturday’s contest.