Offense poised to shock the Big 12

Because everyone in the Big 12 knows it after last season.

RJ Harvey’s 2023 Campaign

When the Knights made their Big 12 debut, they leaned heavily on Harvey, who earned an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection from the league’s coaches. He led UCF with 1,416 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. His rushing yards were fourth-best in a single-season UCF, and his touchdowns tied for second-best in a single season.

The Big 12 defensive coordinators have probably spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to slow him down. Don’t worry. Knights coach Gus Malzahn is also thinking of ways to use him.

“Yeah, teams are going to watch him. That’s for sure,” Malzahn said. “But he can do a lot of different things, catching the ball out of the backfield.”

Last season he caught 19 passes and has 41 receptions in his UCF career.

Most telling was how Harvey finished the season. He rushed for 1,038 yards in his final eight games. That included his incredible play against Oklahoma State, which eventually reached the Big 12 Conference title game against Texas. Harvey rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns, including a 92-yard touchdown run.

The depth of UCF’s offensive weapons

Harvey was a quarterback in high school, and Malzahn said that helps him in terms of field vision. His ability to block and read protections in the passing game has improved. The addition of quarterback KJ Jefferson in the transfer portal should also help keep Harvey off the heat.

These playmakers, along with Harvey, could make UCF dangerous in its second season in the conference.

“We’ve got other playmakers around,” Malzahn said. “So I think that helps him, too. But I’m very excited. I’ve been fortunate enough to have some really, really good running backs in the past. He’s definitely in that same conversation. I think the sky’s the limit for him if he stays healthy this year.”

UCF went 6-7 in 2023 with a 3-6 record in the Big 12. Malzahn continues to build the Knights into a team that could one day be a major contender in the Big 12, aided in part by his experience as a head coach in the SEC.

The Knights have six returning starters on offense, including three returning starters on the offensive line that will create holes for Harvey and provide protection for Jefferson.

The defense has less continuity than it did a year ago, and the starting lineup could consist of a majority of transfers. Of the remaining players, defensive end Malachi Lawrence technically isn’t a returning starter but could make a big jump after an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention season a year ago.

The Knights open the season with games against New Hampshire on Aug. 29 and Sam Houston on Sept. 7. UCF opens Big 12 play on Sept. 14 at TCU and hosts Colorado on Sept. 28 after a week off.

UCF travels to Florida on Oct. 5 for its final non-conference game before Big 12 play resumes: home to Cincinnati on Oct. 12, at Iowa State on Oct. 19 and hosting BYU on Oct. 26.

The Knights open November at home against Arizona on Nov. 2. Their next two games are away — at Arizona State on Nov. 9 and at West Virginia on Nov. 23. The regular season concludes at home against Utah on Nov. 29.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.