The Big 12 Conference will announce this week two nominees from each of the league's member institutions for the 2024-2025 Big 12 Athlete of the Year. Each member institution nominated one male athlete and one female athlete who competed for their respective institution in a league-sponsored sport and finished the year in good academic standing.
UCF's nominees this year are running back R.J. Harvey and rower Hannah Lovejoy.
In 2024, Harvey was a co-captain of the Knights' football team, rushing for career-highs of 1577 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 131.4 rushing yards per game, rushing for more than 100 in nine of 12 games. Harvey's performance earned him First Team All-Big 12 honors and a spot as a national semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's top running back. He was also named a Third Team All-American by both The Associated Press and Phil Steele at the end of the season.
The Orlando native spent the 2019 season at Virginia before joining UCF via the transfer portal. He finished his time with the Knights as the program's career leader in total touchdowns with 48. He also reached a total of 43 rushing touchdowns, good for second in program history. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Harvey was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the second round, making him the highest-drafted running back in UCF history.
Lovejoy, a junior from Marietta, Ohio, was previously named the Big 12 Rower of the Year for 2024, earned All-Big 12 honors, was named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention and a CRCA Scholar-Athlete. UCF rowing won their first Big 12 title this past season and placed 15th overall at the NCAA Championships, the program's highest team finish.
The two winners will be announced on Thursday, July 24. UCF Athletics enters the department's third season in the Big 12 Conference in 2025 after joining from the American Athletic Conference prior to the 2023-2024 Academic Year.