Oklahoma LB learns decision on appeal for sixth year of eligibility
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke’s college career appears to have come to an end.
After his initial request for a waiver that would grant him a sixth year of eligibility was denied, Heinecke appealed the decision. But on Tuesday, that appeal was denied as well. Heinecke’s family revealed the news to On3’s George Stoia.
Heinecke’s story is interesting. A decorated football and lacrosse player in high school, he actually walked on at Ohio State not as a football player, but as a lacrosse player. The Tulsa native then transferred to Oklahoma, where he was a preferred walk-on.
After redshirting in 2022 and playing primarily on special teams in 2023 and 2024, Heinecke emerged as one of the Sooners’ top defensive players in 2025. He ended the season second on the team in tackles (74) and in tackles for a loss (12.0) en route to all-SEC second-team honors.
Eventually, he requested to return in 2026 for a sixth year, arguing that his walk-on year with the Ohio State lacrosse team — where he played a total of 15 minutes in 2021 — shouldn’t count toward his cumulative eligibility.
That request was denied on Jan. 30. Heinecke then appealed the decision, but that too was ultimately denied on Tuesday.
Heinecke could decide to pursue further legal action and continue to fight for a return to the Sooners. In the midst of all this, he’s played the Senior Bowl with an eye on making a good impression on scouts ahead of April’s NFL Draft.
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Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
