In the midst of one of the best seasons in program history, UCF running back RJ Harvey has been named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate running back.

Harvey has turned in a historic season, compiling 1,160 rushing yards to become the first Knights running back to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a season since Greg McCrae in 2018.

He becomes the seventh running back under UCF head coach Gus Malzahn to be named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award joining Auburn running backs Kerryon Johnson (2017), Kamryn Pettaway (2016), Cameron Artis-Payne (2014), Tre Mason (2013), Ben Tate (2009) and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden (2006).

The Orlando native ranks among the top 10 in the Big 12 Conference in every rushing category. He’s second in rushing TDs (14), third in yards per rush (6.11) and rushing yards (1,160), fourth in rushing yards per game (105.45) and fifth in rushing attempts (190).

His 14 rushing touchdowns rank seventh nationally and his rushing yards total is 10th in the nation.

Harvey tallied five consecutive 100-yard rushing games from the Kansas to Oklahoma State games, becoming just the second running back in program history to accomplish the feat in as many games, joining UCF Hall of Famer Kevin Smith.

In the last three games, Harvey has rushed for 448 yards and scored eight TDs.

Harvey registered a career-high 206 rushing yards and found the end zone three times in the Knights’ dominant 45-3 win against then-No. 15 Oklahoma State. He recorded the second-longest rushing TD in program history with a 92-yard dash, which stands as the longest play in the Big 12 this season and the second longest rushing TD in the nation.

Against Cincinnati, Harvey logged 164 rushing yards on 20 carries with three TDs to lead UCF to its first Big 12 win and he was named the Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week following that performance.

He became just the third player in program history with back-to-back games with three rushing touchdowns and the first since Brynn Harvey accomplished the feat in 2009.

Harvey is joined on the list by Georgia State’s Marcus Carroll, Michigan’s Blake Corum, Missouri’s Cody Schrader, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon, Oregon State’s Damien Martinez, Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks and Troy’s Kimani Vidal.

Harvey is just the second UCF player to be named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, joining Smith who was tabbed a semifinalist in 2007.

The Big 12 leads all conferences with four players on the list, followed by two from the Sun Belt and one each from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Pac-12 Conference and Southeastern Conference.

Three finalists for the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be announced Nov. 28 and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8. The formal presentation of the award will take place on the SMU campus at the annual banquet scheduled for Feb. 16, 2024.

The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

Photo credit: Sean Russell/FAAZ Sports