Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke was going to get paid to play football this season regardless of where or at what level, but thank goodness it's for the Sooners.
Heinecke's legal battle with the NCAA, ultimately ending with him getting another year of eligibility at OU, was like hitting the lottery for the Sooners. But it's already paying off for Heinecke, too, and could even more come April.
On3 reported on Thursday that Heinecke signed a new NIL deal with Q-Collar, a neck device for athletes that helps protect them from repeated impacts to the head when worn. Heinecke wore a Q-Collar during his breakout season last year after researching the device and will again in 2026 as part of his new agreement. It's nice to see Heinecke get more money in his pocket, but even better, he's supporting a product he really does believe in.
NEW: Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke has signed an NIL deal with Q-Collar⭕️
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) July 16, 2026
Heinecke has a $400K On3 NIL Valuation.
Read: https://t.co/GkZQ9syPpS pic.twitter.com/1Gw9jUiH7u
“I was really grateful that Q-Collar reached out because I was going to wear the Q-Collar regardless [of] if they wanted to pursue a deal or not,” Heinecke told On3. “There are a handful of people in the NFL and a couple people that are in college that are starting to wear it that are recognizable names. It was something that I was really wanting to try out.
“I’ve had a great experience with it. I feel like it’s really helped. To be somebody that might be able to influence the younger generation into being more proactive about protecting their brains, I’m excited to do that.”
NIL is only the start of Owen Heinecke's extra year paying off
On3 didn't reveal the dollar figure for the specific deal with Q-Collar, but the outlet's NIL valuation for Heinecke in 2026 is $400,000. That's really worth every penny for the Sooners if he again is an All-SEC level player on defense. It could have also been the best financial move possible for Heinecke.
Had Heinecke not gotten an extra year and been forced to head to the NFL instead, there's a chance he wouldn't have been selected in the 2026 NFL Draft despite coming off a stellar season. For comparison, the minimum rookie contract value is $885,000 a year, but that's only if Heinecke actually made the 53-man roster. If not, the average salary for a rookie on the practice squad throughout the season is about $247,500, according to Front Office Sports.
Heinecke was a surprise in 2025 as a former walk-on whose college journey actually started as a lacrosse player at Ohio State, which is ultimately what led to his eligibility debacle. After he had little opportunity for two years, Heinecke cracked the starting lineup for five games while earning Second-Team All-SEC honors.
Read more: Owen Heinecke has a clear path to the Butkus Award in 2026
The reality is that small sample, especially with Heinecke undersized at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, wouldn't have made Heinecke a highly coveted draft prospect. However, if he shows out again this season and even shows improvement, Heinecke should solidify himself as a draft pick in 2027, and that $885K would become pocket change.
Heinecke's extra season is paying off now and should continue to.
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