Kolby Harvell-Peel Not Playing for Pokes in Texas Bowl Against A&M

Oklahoma State is down maybe its best offensive and defensive players for Friday’s Texas Bowl matchup against Texas A&M. All-Big 12 safety Kolby Harvell-Peel will not play for the Pokes when they line up against the 7-5 Aggies.

Peel, who notched first-team All-Big 12 honors and three Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week awards following a season in which he led all Power Five players in passes defended and intercepted five passes, is out because of a knee injury he suffered in Bedlam.

“He’s been awesome,” said Gundy on Thursday. “He’s played at a very high level. He’s been around the ball all the time. If there’s ever a ball tipped or on the ground rolling around, he happens to be in the area, and he’s made plays.

“He’s been a good leader for us. He’s been quiet. He’s practiced really hard. He goes out and does his job. It’s unfortunate he can’t play in the game, but he’s been a really good leader for us and we’re looking forward to his future at Oklahoma State.”

Mike Gundy, on the impact @ConsolFootball product & safety Kolby Harvell-Peel has made for his team this year (will not play in bowl game because of injury) pic.twitter.com/c1c8FWJWHE

— Zach Taylor (@ZachTaylorSport) December 26, 2019

Redshirt freshman Jason Taylor II is expected to replace KHP on the depth chart, although we wouldn’t be surprised to see Tanner McCalister (who backs up Tre Sterling) or Kanion Williams (who technically backs up KHP) get some run here as well.

Peel’s five INTs ranks T2 in the Gundy era by a single player along with Broderick Brown, Justin Gilbert’s sophomore year, Jacob Lacey, Pat Lavine and Andrew McGee. Everybody trails the goat Gilbert, who had seven of them (AND NEARLY AN EIGHTH) in 2013 as a senior.

Also: Chuba Hubbard is playing. The offensive player I referenced who won’t be in attendance is Tylan Wallace, who had ACL surgery and is out until 2020.