OSU football: After rehabbing during pandemic, Kolby Harvell-Peel is ready for action

Sep. 17--STILLWATER -- Rehabbing a torn ACL is hard enough, but Oklahoma State safety Kolby Harvell-Peel had to do it through the coronavirus pandemic.

Having suffered the injury at the end of the Bedlam game in late November, Harvell-Peel was in the middle of his rehabilitation when the pandemic hit, so he was on his own at home.

"I was just trying to make sure that I was staying up to date with my rehab and where I was supposed to be at," Harvell-Peel said. "I went full-speed the first day of camp and every day since then, I've been feeling better and better, more like myself. I'm ready to roll on Saturday."

Coaches worked to protect Harvell-Peel -- who was named the team's defensive MVP last season -- during some of the early contact periods of preseason camp.

"It was more gradual," Harvell-Peel said. "The first live scrimmage, I wasn't out there tackling. But by the end of camp, I was starting to really fly around and felt like I was making plays the same way I always have."

He removed his knee brace about halfway through camp.

"There was a practice that was a pretty light day, so I started doing (individual drills) without my brace," he said. "I started getting more movement and making sure I felt secure with it.

"I definitely feel like I can move a little better without it."

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