Oklahoma Linebacker Owen Heinecke Accepts Senior Bowl Invite Amid Eligibility Uncertainty
Owen Heinecke may not know exactly where he’ll be playing football in 2026, but one thing’s clear-he’s earned a spot on one of the biggest stages for NFL hopefuls.
The Oklahoma linebacker has officially accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, set for January 31 in Mobile, Alabama. It’s a major milestone for Heinecke, who becomes the second Sooner to accept an invite to this year’s showcase, joining defensive tackle Gracen Halton.
The invite comes at a pivotal time for Heinecke, whose college career is currently in limbo. Listed as a redshirt junior, he just wrapped up his fifth season of college eligibility and has a pending appeal with the NCAA for a potential sixth year. While that decision remains up in the air, the Senior Bowl gives Heinecke a concrete next step-one that could launch his professional career if the NCAA doesn’t rule in his favor.
Heinecke’s journey to this point hasn’t followed the traditional path. A Tulsa native and former standout at Bishop Kelley, he was under-recruited coming out of high school due to the pandemic’s impact on scouting and exposure.
He initially took his athletic talents to Ohio State-not on the football field, but as a lacrosse player. He appeared in three games as a true freshman for the Buckeyes in 2021.
But football was always part of the plan. After one season in Columbus, Heinecke shifted gears and walked on at Oklahoma in 2022.
He redshirted that year, then carved out a role on special teams over the next two seasons in 2023 and 2024. That work ethic and persistence paid off in a big way this fall.
In 2025, Heinecke broke through in a major way. The 6-foot-1, 227-pound linebacker didn’t just earn reps-he became a key cog in Oklahoma’s defense down the stretch.
He played in all 13 games and started the final five, helping anchor a unit that made a push toward the College Football Playoff. His impact was felt across the board: 74 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and 14 total pressures.
That production earned him AP All-SEC honors and put him firmly on the radar of NFL scouts.
Now, with the Senior Bowl on the horizon, Heinecke has a chance to showcase his game in front of decision-makers from all 32 NFL teams. The event, which includes a full week of practices and meetings with coaches and scouts, has long been a proving ground for college seniors looking to elevate their draft stock. Last year alone, 106 Senior Bowl participants were selected in the NFL Draft, including 50 in the first three rounds.
Still, Heinecke hasn’t closed the door on one more ride with the Sooners. He’s made it clear he’d like to return to Norman if the NCAA grants him a sixth year. But he’s also realistic about the odds.
“I think the probability of that is not high,” Heinecke said Friday night when asked about his appeal. “But I'm hoping that all the evidence and the fact that I hope the NCAA will see that I'm not just another football player who is wanting a bunch of NIL money, I'm someone who cares about the university and stuck their time out with the same place and is just starting to kind of reap the rewards, is wanting another year to go at it.
"I'm hoping that they'll see my case for that and not just kind of clump it with everything else. Once I hear back on that, I'll be able to make some decisions. But until then, it's kind of up in the air."
Whatever the outcome, Heinecke’s story is already one of resilience and determination. From lacrosse fields in Columbus to starting linebacker in Norman to now preparing for the Senior Bowl, he’s shown he belongs. And come January 31, he’ll get the chance to prove it on one of the biggest stages in college football’s pre-draft circuit.