Willie Harvey Bio
Willie Harvey Jr. (born January 9, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker who is most widely recognized for his work in the United Football League (UFL). Standing 5 ft 11 in tall and listed at 230 lb, he plays the linebacker position and has built a reputation as a high-volume tackler. Harvey currently plays for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL, where he has earned back-to-back All-UFL honors. He has also spent time in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys, giving him experience across multiple levels of professional football.
Early Life and Background
Willie Harvey Jr. was born on January 9, 1996, in Hastings, Florida, a small community in St. Johns County in the northeastern part of the state. Growing up in Hastings shaped the early environment in which he developed his interest in football. He attended Pedro Menendez High School in nearby St. Augustine, Florida, where he began to attract attention as a defensive prospect.
As a senior at Pedro Menendez, Harvey lined up at linebacker and produced a standout season. He recorded 131 tackles, including 49 solo stops, four sacks, and three forced fumbles. His play earned him recognition as a first-team all-state selection by the Sun Sentinel, and he was also named to the Class 5A Elite all-state team. Those numbers and honors marked him as one of the more productive linebackers in the region and helped open the door to a college opportunity.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Willie Harvey Jr. committed to Iowa State University, joining the Cyclones program as a linebacker. He redshirted during the 2014 season to develop his body and understanding of the defense before stepping onto the field. From that point, he worked through the depth chart and into a starting role, learning to play multiple linebacker positions within the Iowa State scheme.
His college trajectory showed steady growth, with Harvey appearing in every regular season game during his active years and earning conference recognition along the way. By the time he finished at Iowa State, he had been named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in three consecutive seasons. He was also invited to participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January 2019, a showcase that gave him one final opportunity to demonstrate his skills in front of NFL evaluators before turning professional.
Willie Harvey Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Harvey’s college career at Iowa State spanned the 2014 through 2018 seasons. After redshirting as a true freshman, he started eight of the 12 games he played as a redshirt freshman and finished fourth on the team with 59 tackles. The following season, he started nine of 12 games, tied for the team lead in tackles with 78, and ranked second on the squad in tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (3.0), earning his first Honorable Mention All-Big 12 nod.
As a junior, Harvey started all 12 games at outside linebacker and posted 76 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and five pass breakups, while collecting another Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection. In his senior season of 2018, he started all 13 games, recorded 76 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks, earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12 for a third straight year.
Cleveland Browns Era (2019–2022)
Although a few NFL teams had given him draftable grades, Harvey went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft and signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 31, 2019, and quickly signed to the team’s practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 21, 2019, before being placed on injured reserve on October 4 of that year.
The Browns waived Harvey on September 5, 2020, and re-signed him on August 20, 2021, only to waive him again on August 31, 2021. He returned to the Browns for a third time on December 18, 2021, after the team faced more than 20 positive COVID-19 tests on its active roster. After being waived on January 8, 2022, he signed a reserve/futures contract with Cleveland on January 11, 2022, and was waived for the final time on August 30, 2022. Across his NFL stops, Harvey recorded 2 total tackles.
St. Louis BattleHawks First Stint (2022–2024)
On November 17, 2022, Harvey was drafted by the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. He re-signed with the team on January 30, 2024, and quickly established himself as a leader on the Battlehawks defense. His production that season was significant enough to earn him a place on the 2024 All-UFL Team on June 5, 2024, and he finished the year as the UFL’s tackles leader.
Harvey had his Battlehawks contract terminated on June 18, 2024, in order to sign with an NFL team, signaling the level of interest he had generated with his UFL performance.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024)
On June 18, 2024, Willie Harvey Jr. signed with the Dallas Cowboys, returning to the NFL after his successful spring with the Battlehawks. He competed for a roster spot through training camp and the preseason but was waived by the Cowboys on August 26, 2024. The brief stint with Dallas added another NFL chapter to his resume before he returned to the UFL.
St. Louis BattleHawks Return (2025–Present)
On January 17, 2025, Harvey re-signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks for a second stint with the franchise. His continued strong play was rewarded with a selection to the 2025 All-UFL Team, marking his second consecutive All-UFL honor. He remains with the Battlehawks as the 2025 season progresses.
Driving Style and Strengths
Harvey’s game is built on production, instincts, and availability rather than ideal measurables for the position. Throughout his career, he has been praised for his tackling volume, football intelligence, and ability to play all three linebacker spots, a versatility he first showcased at Iowa State. His willingness to play special teams and serve in depth roles has helped him stay on rosters across multiple leagues.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Willie Harvey Jr.’s career are his three consecutive Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selections at Iowa State, his selection to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January 2019, his first All-UFL honor in 2024, his recognition as the UFL’s tackles leader that same season, and his repeat selection to the All-UFL Team in 2025.
Willie Harvey Career Wins
Willie Harvey Jr.’s career has been defined more by consistency and postseason recognition than by championship trophies. Across the NFL, the XFL, and the UFL, he has earned multiple All-League honors while serving as a tackling leader for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
UFL Highlights
In the UFL, Harvey has been one of the most consistent linebackers in the league. He was named to the All-UFL Team in 2024 and repeated that honor in 2025, giving him two consecutive All-UFL selections. He also led the UFL in tackles during the 2024 season, cementing his status as a top tackler at that level.
Other Wins and Performances
At the NFL level, Harvey’s path included stops with the Cleveland Browns from 2019 through 2022 and a brief 2024 stint with the Dallas Cowboys, where he earned 2 total tackles in regular-season play. At Iowa State, he recorded more than 280 tackles across his college career along with multiple All-Big 12 honorable mentions.
Willie Harvey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is no publicly verified information regarding Willie Harvey Jr.’s parents or broader family background beyond his upbringing in Hastings, Florida, and his development as a linebacker at Pedro Menendez High School.
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Willie Harvey Jr.’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, have not been confirmed in verified sources. He maintains a presence on social media, including an account on X under the handle @willieharveyjr and an Instagram presence at @willbilltrilll.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has seen Willie Harvey Jr. return to the St. Louis Battlehawks after re-signing with the team on January 17, 2025. Back with the franchise that first gave him a spring-league opportunity, he has continued in the role of defensive leader and tackling presence in the middle of the field. His early-season play was strong enough to earn him a place on the 2025 All-UFL Team, matching the All-UFL recognition he earned in 2024.
Harvey’s two All-UFL selections in 2024 and 2025 make him one of the more decorated linebackers of the UFL’s young history, and his prior NFL experience with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys adds a level of credibility that few of his spring-league peers can match. The 2025 campaign represents a continuation of the momentum he built during the 2024 season, when he also led the UFL in tackles.
Looking ahead through the rest of the 2025 season, Harvey will be counted on to anchor the Battlehawks defense, set the tone at the linebacker position, and pursue further individual recognition as the team pushes toward the UFL playoffs.
