NORMAN — Oklahoma football general manager Jim Nagy made it clear Monday the program isn’t giving up on Owen Heinecke being a Sooner next season.
Heinecke was thought to be turning his focus toward the NFL after attending the scouting combine and having his appeal for an extra year of eligibility denied by the NCAA.
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Heinecke had no updates to share with The Oklahoman.
“We’re still working through some of that,” Nagy said Monday. “We’re not giving up. Owen’s just a guy you want to fight for. Been in a lot of close contact with he and his dad through this process and through Owen’s Senior Bowl and combine. If it ends up where he’s in the NFL next year, whoever gets him is going to get a really good football player and a great young man. But yeah, we’re still working through that.”
More: What makes OU football LB Owen Heinecke’s NCAA eligibility case unique
What does that mean? It’s unclear at this point.
Heinecke, whose petition and appeal were denied due to the NCAA counting three games (15 minutes) of lacrosse at Ohio State in 2021 against him, could of course choose to file a lawsuit.
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Heinecke’s father, Justin, told The Oklahoman there are no plans to sue as of now.
The Tulsa native broke out for the Sooners during their run to the College Football Playoff this past season, totaling 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. said he projects Heinecke has potentially an “early Day 3” selection.
Not knowing whether or not Heinecke would be back was something Nagy and his front office staff accounted for during the transfer portal window.
“If there’s any sliver of hope of getting Owen back, we’re going to do that,” Nagy said. “And it’s not hard on me, it’s the hardest thing on Owen. I mean he’s trying — he doesn’t know where to focus his time. I know it hasn’t been easy on Owen.”
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Heinecke was back inside the football facilities last week and watched winter workouts with Nagy.
OU begins spring practice March 25. Its GM is still holding out hope Heinecke might join the Sooners on the field.
“It got him really juiced up about potentially maybe coming back here and being a Sooner,” Nagy said, “being around his teammates again and seeing those guys work.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football not giving up on Owen Heinecke despite losing NCAA appeal
