One former walk-on is continuing to prove in fall camp why he should have been on scholarship a long time ago for the Sooners originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Oklahoma Sooners have a ton of big-time names to the fan base as the enter 2025. They have guys that in Norman, Oklahoma, and around the state, are superstars. Guys like John Mateer, R Mason Thomas, and even Jayden Ott now.
Those guys are pretty well known tho the fan base, even by the casual fans. But, there are some really good players on this team who may not be as known as those guys, but when it comes to their role, they do it very good.
One of those is a linebacker the casual fan may or may not know about. Owen Heinecke has been balling during fall camp.
Advertisement
View the original article to see embedded media.
Sooners LB Owen Heinecke has had great fall camps
Owen Heinecke is a redshirt junior linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners. He didn’t play a ton last year, but when he did he certainly wasn’t bad. It just happens that he plays one of the more stacked positions on the Sooners.
Heinecke is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, so, he’s a local kid. He stands 6’1” and weighs 227 pounds. Originally a lacrosse player at Ohio State in 2021, Heinecke transferred to OU as a walk-on in 2022 after a standout high school career at Bishop Kelley, where he was named District 5A-III Player of the Year in football. So, yes, the kid can play, and being a walk-on didn’t change any of that.
And being a scholarship player didn’t change his going or approach at all, either.
Advertisement
At OU, Heinecke has been a key special teams player, appearing in all 13 games in both 2023 and 2024. He recorded seven tackles in 2024, including a career-high two against Temple, and four tackles in 2023. His speed and tackling ability make him a valuable asset on coverage units.
Heinecke’s family has OU ties—his uncle played on the 2000 national championship team, and his father played football at Tulsa.
View the original article to see embedded media.
“He’s had as good a camp as anybody,” head coach Brent Venables said regarding former walk-on linebacker Owen Heinecke.
As for Heinecke as he enters 2025, he’s showing why he should have been a scholarship player from the get-go. Now, it’s about making the most of the opportunities he does get.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
