Oklahoma assistant drops major hint Owen Heinecke has played his last game in Norman

As much as Oklahoma fans have been keeping up with who the Sooners are bringing in from the Transfer Portal, they've been even more concerned about some of the current players staying, especially linebacker Owen Heinecke.

Heinecke was a breakout star this season on the Sooners' elite defense and was the story of the year after starting his career at OU as a walk-on who had to force head coach Brent Venables to finally give him a chance on the field. However, Heinecke's best season could be his last all because of three lacrosse games while at Ohio State in 2021.

Nate Dreiling posts heartfelt goodbye to senior linebackers, including Heinecke

After graduating from Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Heinecke initially went to Ohio State to play lacrosse after getting only two major offers in football from Army and Navy. He spent just one year at Ohio State and appeared in only three games, though, before returning to Oklahoma and walking on to play football for the Sooners.

Once at OU, Heinecke didn't touch the field in 2022, then played on special teams and sparingly as a backup linebacker in 2023 and '24. By the end of 2025, though, he had earned a starting job while tallying 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and forced a fumble in 13 games. He was named Second-Team All-SEC.

OU has appealed for one more year for Heinecke and for those lacrosse games not to count so he can return in 2026.

Despite being listed as a redshirt junior on OU's roster, Heinecke was a senior in the eyes of the NCAA because of those three lacrosse games at Ohio State nearly five years ago. That status and his performance this season earned Heinecke an invite to the Senior Bowl to show NFL scouts what he can do. Fans hoped it was just formality just in case when Heinecke accepted his invite, but after rosters were recently announced, it sure sounded like OU inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling was saying goodbye to Heinecke and other participating seniors he coached.

"What a privilege it is has been to help coach and develop Owen, K5 (Kendal Daniels), and Keyshaun (Elliott) over the last few years," Dreiling wrote in a post on X. "Excited to see what the future holds for all of them! Great people who work for everything! Senior bowl- might have a few more coming your way soon!"

Nothing has been announced yet by the NCAA or OU, but so far, all signs have been discouraging for Heinecke's return in 2026. And even if Heinecke does get another year, he's still draft eligible and has a rising stock, so he could still choose to enter the NFL Draft regardless.