OU football LB Owen Heinecke applies for sixth year of eligibility
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NORMAN — Owen Heinecke would strongly consider returning to Oklahoma next season for his sixth season of collegiate athletics.
The Tulsa native and former walk-on, who has become a major contributor on the Sooners’ defense, said Sunday he has applied for another year of eligibility.
But, there’s one obstacle.
The NCAA is counting the three lacrosse games Heinecke appeared in at Ohio State in 2021.
“It’s been a complicated process,” said Heinecke, who is locked in on preparation ahead of OU’s first-round College Football Playoff game. “Currently in an appeal process with the NCAA, hoping to hear back somewhat soon. The NCAA is cracking down on sixth years. So as of right now, I don’t know if I got granted the extra year.”
Heinecke went from sneaking into practice drills and getting chewed out by coach Brent Venables for it during his first couple seasons in Norman, to recording 67 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery on one of the nation’s best defenses.
He was also awarded the Don Key Award this season, which is described by coaches as the highest honor an Sooners football player can receive. It goes to the player who best exemplifies the many superior qualities of Key — an All-Big 8 guard and potential All-American until cancer surgery ended his football career in 1981 — both on the field and in the classroom.
“It’s an honor to play for this university,” Heinecke said. “It’s something that I dreamed about as a little kid. I had an uncle who played here, and from the moment I was born, I had an OU beanie that I wore every day. So to be able to play and contribute in meaningful games is something that I don’t take for granted.”
Heinecke’s uncle, Cory, was a defensive end on OU’s 2000 national championship team. The two have similar stories as Cory was a walk-on after one year at a junior college.
Heinecke knows Friday’s bout with Alabama in the CFP could be the final time he runs out of the tunnel onto Owen Field and he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder.
“I love Oklahoma,” Heinecke said. ‘This has really been my first year playing, so I would love another year to go at it.”
Febechi Nwaiwu ‘extremely grateful’ for Burlsworth Trophy ceremony experience
Speaking of former walk-ons, OU offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu was honored as a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy during a ceremony last week.
Nwaiwu walked on at North Texas in 2021 before being named an All-American in 2022.
“It was a lot of fun,” Nwaiwu said Sunday. “I was extremely blessed and honored to be even considered a semifinalist, much less a finalist for the Burlsworth. That’s an incredible award — those guys, being in the room, surrounded with a lot of like-minded people, other people that I had to work like I did, starting as a walk on.”
Mean Green quarterback Drew Mestemaker took home the award, which honors college football’s most oustanding player who was once a walk-on, over Nwaiwu and Texas defensive back Michael Taafe.
“It was really inspirational, seeing stories,” Nwaiwu said. “Drew didn’t even play as a high school player. Michael Taafe, even though he’s from Texas, he’s a great player. That guy, he didn’t even play his first two years at Texas either.
“Being in that room, and even the other players in that room, and just the story that Brandon Burlsworth had, and being able to experience that firsthand, not just through a text or through an online post or a movie or reading up on it. Just really experiencing the culture and the history back there was a great experience. I loved it.”
Sooners looking forward to home College Football Playoff atmosphere
Not only are the Sooners preparing for their third game against Alabama in nearly 13 months, they earned another opportunity to play inside Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
“It’s awesome. It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Heinecke said. “I know Sooner Nation is just as excited as we are about it. So hopefully we can come out and have our tails on fire, but it’s gonna be awesome. I’m super excited for it. They asked us what we want to see in the stadium, so we gave some song recommendations and some light show recommendations.”
Heinecke’s suggestion? “End of Line” by Daft Punk, a song from the soundtrack of 2010 film “Tron: Legacy.”
“My mom, she loves that Daft Punk song, and it got me re-fired up and ready to go,” Heinecke said. “There’s a cool opportunity to do some light stuff with that song, so hopefully we get it figured out. I’ve been working closely with (director of operations Jacob Maloney) and (assistant director of football operations Cade Kimzey) on it, so we’ll see.”
Defensive end Taylor Wein, on the other hand, is leaving the game-day entertainment to the professionals.
“As far as songs, to me I’m not really picky,” Wein said. “I’m there to play football. I don’t really care about the songs. I thought ‘Many Men’ was pretty good going into the fourth. I thought that was cool. It got everyone going. But yeah, I’m there to play football. I’m not a DJ.”
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.
OU vs. Alabama
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman (ABC/ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football LB Owen Heinecke applies for sixth year of eligibility
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