ORLANDO – After finishing the regular season third in the nation in rushing yards, UCF running back RJ Harvey has been tabbed an Associated Press (AP) All-American, the organization announced Monday. He garnered a spot on the third team, as the teams were selected by vote of 45 AP top 25 voters.
Harvey led the Big 12 Conference and finished the regular season with 1,577 rushing yards. His 22 rushing touchdowns tied for the third most in the country and best among conference running backs. Harvey’s 25 total touchdowns (22 rushing, 3 receiving) helped him set the UCF record for career touchdowns scored with 48, two more than UCF Hall of Famer Kevin Smith, who previously held the record.
He recorded more rushing yards than 30 FBS programs this season, including 20 Power Four Conference teams and five from the Big 12.
Harvey was the second player in program history to record consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining Marquette Smith (1994-95).
He surpassed 100 yards rushing in nine of the Knights’ 12 games, headlined by a season-high 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns against No. 9 Iowa State.
The UCF standout scored 152 points during the season to top the Big 12 and rank second nationally behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, averaging 12.7 points per game. He had 54 rushes of 10 or more yards to rank second nationally and lead the conference.
He finished his career with 3,792 rushing yards, the second most in program history.
For the second consecutive year, Harvey was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate running back. The Orlando native became the first player in program history to garner the recognition twice or in consecutive years and was one of just three players nationally to be a semifinalist in 2023 and 2024.