Redshirt junior linebacker Owen Heinecke said at OU’s Pro Day Thursday that he is all in with the NFL draft process, while he continues to be in an eligibility battle with the NCAA.
“Right now, the fact is that my year is not available, so obviously, I participated in Pro Day — full steam ahead on the NFL, …” Heinecke said. “I'm full steam ahead on the NFL, and that's the message that's been communicated to them. And when draft day comes, if I'm eligible for the draft, I'll be ready for the draft.”
This comes after Heinecke’s initial petition for eligibility was denied on Jan. 29 and his appeal as well on Feb. 24. The NCAA is counting three games of lacrosse he played his freshman year at Ohio State against him.
Heinecke started as a walk-on player at OU before recording 86 tackles, four pass deflections and three sacks across four seasons as a Sooner. He finished with 74 tackles, four pass deflections and three sacks in 2025 after playing in all 13 games and starting five.
Heinecke, who recorded a 4.62 40-yard dash during Pro Day, said that even though most of his college success came in his senior year, he anticipates scouts will see potential in him.
“I popped on the scene pretty late, so I only have five games as a starter on film,” Heinecke said. “But I think people see a lot of upside.”
However, while Heinecke’s focused on the NFL draft, general manager Jim Nagy said at media day on Monday that the Sooners are still not giving up on the NCAA process.
“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.”
If Heinecke is to seek additional action, he would file for an injunction in a courtroom. Trinidad Chambliss, a fifth-year senior quarterback at Mississippi, successfully filed for an injunction after suing the NCAA, a ruling the college sports governing body is now appealing.
“The next steps, similar to Trinidad's case, would be to file for an injunction,” Heinecke said. “That's where every case is unique, and I got to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.”
No matter Heinecke’s choice, according to Nagy, the linebacker is well prepared for the future.
“He's a really special young man,” Nagy said. “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.”
