OU football LB Owen Heinecke files injunction vs NCAA over eligibility

NORMAN — Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke filed for a preliminary injunction Monday for another year of eligibility, according to court documents obtained by The Oklahoman.

An emergency hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. April 16 in Cleveland County District Court. District Judge Thad Balkman, an OU Law graduate, has been assigned to the case.

The NCAA officially denied Heinecke’s appeal for another year of eligibility last month and he’s been preparing for the NFL Draft. The denial of the appeal came after the NCAA initially denied Heinecke’s petition for an extra year of eligibility. 

“OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves," Sooners athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement to The Oklahoman. "We'll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that.”

More: What makes OU football LB Owen Heinecke's NCAA eligibility case unique

The NCAA is counting three games (15 minutes) of lacrosse at Ohio State in 2021 against Heinecke. The Tulsa native participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and OU’s Pro Day, where he said he was "full steam ahead" to the NFL.

SoonerScoop was first to report Heinecke taking legal action.

It was expected that Heinecke, 23, would take legal action following Sooners football general manager Jim Nagy’s comments earlier this month.

"We're still working through some of that," Nagy said. "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.”

Heinecke’s legal counsel includes Tyler Ames, Mary Cooper, Woody Glass (OU football’s former chief of staff), Michael Lauderdale (an OU Law alum) and Andrew Richardson. Balkman previously ruled against OU in 2015, saying steel construction work on OU's stadium expansion must halt.

Heinecke 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. Getting him back next season would be huge.

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 LB Owen Heinecke files injunction vs NCAA over eligibility