ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After weeks of anticipation, the Broncos have added to their backfield.
With the 60th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver selected University of Central Florida running back RJ Harvey.
"That call, that was the most joyful moment of my life," Harvey said of being drafted. "It's a blessing. I'm just so excited."
The fifth running back off the board, Harvey carried the ball 232 times for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024. He also added 20 catches for 267 yards and three scores.
A year earlier, Harvey carried the ball 226 times for 1,416 yards and 16 scores.
Harvey earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2023.
The 5-foot-8, 205-pound player recorded an impressive 54 carries of at least 10 yards in 2024, and only three FBS running backs had more rushing yards than Harvey over the past two seasons. An FBS-best 23.3 percent of his carries in 2024 went for at least 10 yards, and 35.1 percent of his carries resulted in a first down or touchdown.
"I feel like I can do it all," Harvey said. "I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I can run any scheme — and I'm ready to just showcase all my skills."
The second-leading rusher in UCF history, Harvey posted at least 100 yards in 16 of his final 20 games. His 48 total touchdowns are also the most in school history.
The Broncos made the selection after a pair of trades to move down in the second round. First, the team traded back from the 51st-overall pick in a deal with the Panthers. Denver received picks No. 57, No. 74, No. 111 and No. 230 in exchange for picks No. 51, No. 85, No. 122, and No. 208. In exchange for sliding down six spots, Denver improved its positioning by 11 spots in both the third and fourth rounds. The Broncos then traded down from No. 57 to No. 60 and flipped No. 230 for No. 130.
Harvey joins Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson at the running back position on the Broncos' roster.
"It means everything," said Harvey of playing for Head Coach Sean Payton. "He has a great reputation of having great running backs. I'm just excited to get into his system and just do whatever I can to help my team win and move the ball down the field and score touchdowns."
He is Denver's second selection of the 2025 NFL Draft, as the Broncos selected cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 20th-overall pick.
Flip through photos of RB RJ Harvey's path from UCF to the Broncos, who selected him with the 60th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (22) rushes for yardage in front of Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) and linebacker Wilson Huber (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (22) rushes for a touchdown in front of Cincinnati safety Bryon Threats (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey carries the ball for a touchdown against Memphis in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey2
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey breaks open for a 10-yard touchdown during the first half of the NCAA college football team's annual spring game, Friday, April 14, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) rushes for yardage during the first half of an NCAA football game against Baylor on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) rushes for yardage in front of Baylor defensive lineman Justin Sambu (96) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) attempts to get past Kansas linebacker Taiwan Berryhill Jr., right, as linebacker Rich Miller (30) also defends during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
UCF running back RJ Harvey (7) carries the ball against Oklahoma in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
RJ Harvey | Photo by: Conor Kvatek
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Oklahoma State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey, left, rushes for yardage past Houston linebacker Malik Robinson (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) rushes for a touchdown past Sam Houston State linebacker Kavian Gaither (14) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) scores a touchdown against TCU safety Bud Clark (21) in the second quarter during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey, right, rushes for yardage as Colorado safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig (7) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) rushes for yardage against Colorado during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey, center, returns a kickoff against Cincinnati during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) runs past linebacker Jonathan Thompson, right, and cornerback Jordan Young (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey, center, looses his helmet as he is tackled by the Arizona defense during the second half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
Central Florida offensive lineman Caden Kitler (52) lifts RJ Harvey (7) in the air after a touchdown during a NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey, left, is tackled by Utah cornerback Smith Snowden (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey (7) gains yardage on a run against Utah safety Nate Ritchie, center, and defensive end Paul Fitzgerald (40) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
American team running back RJ Harvey (22), of UCF, carries the ball during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team running back RJ Harvey, center, of Central Florida, carries the ball during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the National team Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey participates in the vertical jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Central Florida running back RJ Harvey participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
