Kolby Harvell-Peel on Preseason Thorpe Watch List for NCAA’s Best Defensive Back

Kolby Harvell-Peel was one of 49 defensive backs named to the Jim Thorpe preseason watch list Monday, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced.

Oklahoma State’s leader in interceptions from 2019 is joined by three other Big 12 athletes: TCU’s Trevon Moehrig, Texas’ Caden Sterns and Iowa State’s Greg Eisworth.

There’s an argument to be made that Harvell-Peel should’ve been more of a contender for the 2019 Thorpe award, an honor that went to LSU’s Grant Delpit. Delpit is gone to the Cleveland Browns, though, so there will be a new winner in 2020.

The marketing for Harvell-Peel’s Thorpe push started early this year. Here is a tweet OSU safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt put out in April comparing Harvell-Peel’s numbers to those of previous winners.

It’s Time to bring the @jimthorpeaward ?‍♂️?? back ? where it All started ? Cowboy Country! #GoPokes #DaBLOCK #ThorpeAward pic.twitter.com/MfBj0WTV8N

— Dan Hammerschmidt (@danhammer11) February 6, 2020

Harvell-Peel’s teammate Tre Sterling was none to thrilled that he was left off Monday’s list, tweeting out a video of Isiah Thomas from The Last Dance.

https://t.co/siKPoUc7C8 pic.twitter.com/M0tvqKlINw

— Tre Sterling (@sterling__trey) July 20, 2020

Just because Sterling was left off the preseason list doesn’t mean he is out of the running, though. As the release says, “This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons may be added as the season progresses.”

OSU hasn’t had a Thorpe winner since the award’s debut in 1986.