Owen Heinecke’s journey to becoming one of the most impactful defenders on Oklahoma’s roster isn’t your typical college football story. From Ohio State lacrosse player to walk-on linebacker to defensive leader for a College Football Playoff team, Heinecke’s path has been anything but conventional - and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.
Now a redshirt junior, Heinecke ranks second on the Sooners in tackles with 67, adding two sacks to his name in 2025. That kind of production would be impressive for any starter in a Brent Venables defense. But when it comes from a former walk-on who had to fight for every rep, it says even more about the player behind the stats.
“It’s an honor to play for this university; it’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid,” Heinecke said. “To be able to play and contribute in meaningful games is something I don’t take for granted.”
For Heinecke, this dream started early - and it runs in the family. His uncle, Cory, played for Oklahoma from 1999 to 2001, helping the Sooners to two Big 12 titles and a national championship.
That legacy made an impression. Heinecke grew up wearing an OU beanie and absorbing stories of perseverance and grit from his uncle, who also walked on after transferring from a junior college.
“I had an uncle who played here, and from the moment I was born, I had an OU beanie that I wore every day,” Heinecke said. “We definitely have similar stories.
He walked on after a year at a JUCO, and I know that he wasn't super happy there. He, like me, decided to take a risk on himself.”
That shared path - betting on yourself, starting at the bottom of the depth chart, and clawing your way up - has become a bond between the two. And for Heinecke, seeing his uncle’s championship rings during family visits is more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s fuel.
“Whenever I go over to his house, I always stop by his office to check out his rings,” Heinecke said. “He had a super rewarding career, and we've been able to bond over that. I've been able to bounce questions off him - what he did for motivation, how he kept working - so he's been a huge source of inspiration for me.”
That mindset - relentless effort and self-belief - didn’t go unnoticed by head coach Brent Venables. Back in September, Venables recalled how Heinecke used to sneak into scout-team reps during practice, disrupting the carefully planned rotations.
“He would really piss me off because there’s a very calculated rotation, and then he’d get in there … and would be where he’s not supposed to be,” Venables said. “But I liked him doing that.
He kept doing it. I didn’t look at it as disrespectful.
I just saw it as a guy who thought, ‘Man, I know I can do something.’ Really, he believes in himself, and he’s made a believer out of everybody.”
Heinecke admits those moments were tough at the time. But looking back, he sees how that tension helped shape him.
“At times, it's been a love-hate relationship with him,” Heinecke said. “Him yelling at me to get off the field when I would try and sneak on - I was not always happy with him.
But he’s kept me on my toes for the four years that I've been here, and he’s never let me get comfortable. And I credit part of my success to that.”
That edge - the constant urgency to prove himself - has paid off in a big way. Heinecke jumped from just seven tackles in 2024 to 67 this season, a massive leap that reflects both opportunity and preparation.
But as the Sooners gear up for a high-stakes College Football Playoff matchup against Alabama, there’s some uncertainty about Heinecke’s future. His eligibility is in question due to his year playing lacrosse at Ohio State, and he’s currently in the appeal process with the NCAA.
“It's been a complicated process,” Heinecke said. “They're counting my year at Ohio State lacrosse as a year towards overall eligibility, and I think the NCAA is cracking down on six years.
So as of right now, I don't know. If I got granted the extra year, I would heavily consider it.
I love Oklahoma, and I would love another year to go at it.”
Until he gets clarity, Heinecke is treating each game like it could be his last. And with Alabama up next, there’s no shortage of motivation.
“(I am) playing with that chip on my shoulder, knowing that if this is my last year, I got to impress everybody that I can and take it all in,” he said. “Like I said, this is a dream come true, and every chance I get to run out on that field is a special one. So if this is my last one here, I got to make it worth it.”
Whether or not Heinecke gets another year in crimson and cream, he’s already left his mark. From walk-on to defensive cornerstone, his story is a reminder of what belief, effort, and a little bit of stubbornness can do - especially in a place where football dreams are born and, sometimes, realized.