Harvell-Peel Makes it on Another Award Watch List

Kolby Harvell-Peel is getting the recognition he deserves after a ball hawking season to remember as a sophomore starter at safety.

STILLWATER -- The Oklahoma State Cowboys first-team All Big 12 safety by both the coaches and the media last season and a unanimous pick last week for the 2020 preseason All-Big 12 team voted on by the conference media is back on another major award watch list. Last week Kolby Harvell-Peel was named to the watch list for the 2020 Chuck Bednarik Award that goes to the nation's top division one defensive player. Now, on July 20, Harvell-Peel has been named to the watch list for a home grown award with the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award that goes to the top defensive back in the country. 

Harvell-Peel, who is 6-0, 210-pounds and plays both the bandit and the rover safeties in the Oklahoma State defense had 71 tackles last season. Of those, 49 were unassisted and he had three tackles for loss and a sack. His real influence on defense came with turnovers as he picked off five passes including four coming in a three-game stretch against Iowa State, TCU, and Kansas. His other interception came at Texas. He also broke up 13 passes and forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. That made him one of just two players that were in the top 30 nationally in interceptions and fumbles recovered. 

Harvell-Peel simply has a knack for being around and coming up with the football. The graduate of A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Harvell-Peel added the Harvell to his now hyphened last name to honor his mother and his grandparents, who had the most to do with his growing up and how he was raised. 

Below is the complete list of the Jim Thorpe Award watch list. There are four players on the list from the Big 12 Conference. 

2020 Paycom Jim Thorpe Preseason Watch List

Paulson Adebo, Stanford, Sr.
Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee State, Sr.
Eric Burrell, Wisconsin, Sr.
Camryn Bynum, California, Sr.
T.J. Carter, Memphis, Sr.
Andre Cisco, Syracuse, So.
Kenderick Duncan, Jr., Georgia Southern, Jr.
Greg Eisworth, Iowa State, Sr.
Kaiir Elam, Florida, So.
Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech, Jr.
Paris Ford, Pitt, Jr.
Kaleb Ford-Dement, Old Dominion, Jr.
Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati, Sr.
Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati, So.
Thomas Graham, Jr., Oregon, Sr.
Richie Grant, UCF, Sr.
Darren Hall, San Diego State, Jr.
Brontae Harris, UAB, Sr.
Kolby Harvell-Peel, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Tyrone Hill, Buffalo, Sr.
Jevon Holland, Oregon, Jr.
Talanoa Hufanga,USC, Jr.
Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State, Jr.
Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State, Sr.
Derion Kendrick, Clemson, Jr.
Richard LeCounte, Georgia, Sr.
Trevon Moehrig, TCU, Jr.
Elijah Molden, Washington, Sr.
Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina, Jr.
Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State, Sr.
Dell Pettus, Troy, So.
Antonio Phillips, Ball State, Sr.
Aaron Robinson, UCF, Sr.
Emmanuel Rugamba, Miami (OH), Sr.
Caden Sterns, Texas, So.
JaCoby Stevens, LSU, Sr.
Derek Stingley, Jr., LSU, So.
Erick Stokes, Georgia, Jr.
Corey Straughter, ULM, Sr.
Patrick Surtain II, Alabama, Jr.
Ambry Thomas, Michigan, Sr.
Tariq Thompson, San Diego State, Sr.
Amechi Uzodinma, Ball State, Jr.
Shaun Wade, Ohio State, Jr.
Lamont Wade, Penn State, Sr.
Jalen Walker, Boise State, Sr.
Jermaine Waller, Virginia Tech, Jr.
Sterling Weatherford, Miami (OH), Jr.
James Wiggins, Cincinnati, Sr.

By Conference

AAC (6), ACC (6), BIG 10 (4), BIG 12 (4), C-USA (3), MAC (5), MW (4), PAC-12 (6), SEC (7), SUN BELT (4)

A preseason watch list is compiled by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame based on previous performance and preseason All-America lists. A screening committee, consisting of OSHOF members, monitor the watch list players and narrow the field to 10 to 15 semifinalists on the first Monday of November. This committee reconvenes on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.

All three finalists are invited and required to attend The Home Depot College Football Awards Show Presented by Gildan, broadcast live on ESPN from Atlanta, Georgia, where the winner is announced. Other recognized National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Award.

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following ESPN’s live presentation at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 800 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.