The Broncos have spent the early part of the season searching for answers on offense, and former UCF running back RJ Harvey has quickly become one of the few dependable ones. He’s not just giving Denver a spark on the ground - he’s turned into Bo Nix’s most trusted target through the air.
Harvey has played in only three games, but he’s already piled up 20 catches. That includes a huge outing against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday evening, when he hauled in 10 passes. No other Bronco has come close to that kind of volume; Jaylen Waddle is the only other Denver player with double-digit receptions, sitting at 16.
Against San Francisco, Harvey added 25 rushing yards and was flawless as a receiver, going 10-for-10 on targets for 68 yards. A big chunk of that production came after the catch, the kind of damage that has made him so difficult to corral since his UCF days.
One of the clearest examples came midway through the fourth quarter. Harvey drifted into the left flat, secured a short throw for five yards, then absorbed contact from four 49ers defenders. He broke a tackle, slipped past the rest, and turned a routine checkdown into an 18-yard gain.
That kind of elusiveness is exactly why Denver has leaned on him so early in his NFL career. Even with his rushing workload still quiet through three games, his value as a receiver gives Sean Payton a dangerous weapon out of the backfield.
Harvey’s rookie season at UCF showed the full package. He scored 12 touchdowns, with seven coming on the ground. His last touchdown of the year came against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he scored for a fifth straight game and delivered the eventual game-winner.
He was central to Denver’s game-winning drive in that one, starting with an 11-yard run from the Broncos’ 44-yard line to move into Kansas City territory. After another 14 yards on the ground, Denver faced 4th and 2 at the two-minute warning. Payton kept the ball in Harvey’s hands, lining him up in the wildcat for the biggest snap of the night.
Harvey used a hard count to draw an offsides penalty from six-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones. Another carry got Denver to the one-yard line, setting up 3rd and goal.
On the next play, Nix rolled right while Harvey ran a flat route to the front corner of the end zone. Nix held the ball, Harvey adjusted his route to the back of the end zone, stopped on a dime, and made the catch for the game-winner.
Afterward, Harvey was praised for his IQ and “savvy,” and Nix called him a “special” talent.
Now Denver heads into Sunday’s matchup with the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers after a rough four-game stretch.
In Other News...
UCF Heads To Oklahoma State With One Huge Availability Question
Scott Frost spent part of the week working through another injury-depleted stretch as UCF prepares for a road game at No. 18 Oklahoma State, with the Knights trying to regroup after a loss to Houston. The roster has already taken hits, and the situation has only added to the challenge of heading into a difficult environment while carrying an 11-game road losing streak.
One of the biggest questions centers on the line, where Jacob Maiava left the Houston game on a cart and remains a key uncertainty for the trip. With Alonza Barnett III and Lewis Carter also expected to miss the game, UCF is being forced to patch together answers quickly, even as the program tries to keep its focus on the next chance to break through. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Just Sent A Strong Message About What This Team Can Be
Baylors decisive win over Arizona State offered another look at the kind of league race UCF is walking into next season, and it came alongside a broader snapshot of how several Knights opponents are shaping up. TCU pushed BYU in a close loss, while Pittsburgh handled Virginia Tech in a game that turned much trickier after its starting quarterback went down. For UCF, those results matter because the schedule will not be short on teams carrying momentum, depth, or both.
BYUs climb has been especially notable as the Cougars keep stacking wins and drawing national attention ahead of a trip to the Bounce House on Oct. 24. Baylor, meanwhile, looked every bit like a team capable of making life difficult in the Big 12 after the way it controlled Arizona State. For UCF, the takeaway is simple: the road ahead is going to demand clean play, because several of these opponents are already showing they can win in different ways. [Read more 🡒]