Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke made his case to the NCAA on Friday night for an additional year of eligibility, though he acknowledged it is unlikely the NCAA will oblige.
Heinecke’s fifth season of college came to a close with OU’s 34-24 loss to Alabama in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. A fifth-year senior, Heinecke would otherwise be out of eligibility.
Heinecke has applied for a waiver from the NCAA, which is counting his freshman year on the Ohio State lacrosse team toward his clock, for a sixth year of eligibility.
“I hope the NCAA will see that I’m not just another football player who’s wanting a bunch of NIL money,” Heinecke said. “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 and is just wanting another year to go at it.”
He spent his true freshman year at Ohio State, where he was a member of the lacrosse team. The Tulsa native transferred back to Oklahoma in 2022 and walked on to the football team. Since the start of the 2023 season, Heinecke has played in all 39 games for the Sooners.
Heinecke entered the season with 11 total tackles and no other stats. In 13 games this year, he totaled 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He had 2 TFLs and a sack Friday night against the Crimson Tide.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
