For Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke, the path to the NFL Combine wasn’t paved with five-star ratings. He had a breakout season last year, culminating in his winning the highest honor bestowed on an OU player, the Don Key Award. However, the journey also included a tough choice at Ohio State: a lacrosse scholarship versus out-of-state tuition he couldn’t afford.

Heinecke started his college career as a Lacrosse athlete at Ohio State on a scholarship offer. He was a zero-star high school football recruit, but he had the raw athletic ability for the game. After playing three Lacrosse games in 2021, he pondered a switch to football at OSU. But the Tulsa, Oklahoma, native would have to become a walk-on.

“Unfortunately, they were taking my Lacrosse scholarship,” OU’s ace linebacker Owen Heinecke told the media on February 25 at the NFL scouting combine. “Because I was stepping away from Lacrosse, and out-of-state tuition just was too much for my family and me,” Heinecke added.

Owen was a dual-sport athlete at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa. He was named the District 5A-III player of the year in 2020 and helped his team reach the finals. His status in lacrosse was still on par. He had scored 40 goals in just his first year on Varsity and had offers from major Power Four teams. Enrolling in a lacrosse scholarship seemed the only option.

“I was underrecruited at the high school,” Owen said at the 2026 Senior Bowl. “I decided to choose the school that gave me the best combo of academics and athletics. And Ohio State was that for me, with lacrosse being great up there and being a great school. Chose lacrosse, quickly got the itch to switch back. Was lucky enough to get a call from Coach Venables and a chance to walk on at the University of Oklahoma. Fought my way up the depth chart, and it’s been great.”

With Norman just a two-hour drive from Tulsa, the financial burden of tuition eased, and he could focus completely on football. He played as a safety for three years and also played on special teams, totaling four tackles in 2023. In the 2024 season, he was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, and his persistence continued on the field. Heinecke’s 2025 season was a revelation, as the former walk-on transformed into one of the SEC’s most productive linebackers, totaling 74 tackles, defending 4 passes, and recording 3 sacks. He does have 39 career games under his belt, but there is little playing time outside of the last season.

While Owen’s NFL buzz was growing, he wanted another season with the team as a senior and petitioned the NCAA for a waiver. He merits that, especially since he only played three games in 2021, and in a different sport entirely. However, his plans at OU were derailed when the NCAA made its decision.

Owen Heinecke opens up on the NCAA’s eligibility decision

The NCAA denied Owen Heinecke’s waiver, forcing him to prepare for the NFL unexpectedly. Although the All-SEC linebacker could have filed a lawsuit, as Trinidad Chambliss did, which might have won him another year in Norman, Owen chose a different path. He has left his fate in the hands of NFL GMs, and he is now preparing for the 2026 NFL draft.

But Heinecke has other problems apart from the low playing time. His lack of size at 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds is also a factor NFL teams will consider against him. At this frame, he is unlikely to move pro guards while playing the pass. This makes his showing at the Combine that much more important.

“I think because I popped on the scene a little late, there’s doubts about how I play as a linebacker,” Heinecke said. “So just showing that I can run with the best of the best. I think I did that all year playing in the SEC. Just coming here to Indy and continue to prove that, for sure.”

He is also just learning how to spot blocking schemes and he had some trouble diagnosing misdirection when playing against Ole Miss. All of this has led most draft experts to see him not even picked in any of the rounds of the Draft, but mostly get signed on as a free agent.

“I really only started this past year as a linebacker for Oklahoma. Wanted to keep all my options open,” Owen said. One of those options was possibly going back for another year. So just trying to keep all my options open. Really leaning on family in the Lord for part, which direction was right for me. That got denied, and I’m excited to take the next steps.”

Owen Heinecke was invited to this year’s NFL scouting combine after a superb 2025 season with OU. His multi-sport background makes a strong case for his athleticism and dynamism, as he can also play in the secondary. At the NFL combine, the OU #38 will get a chance to showcase all of it and bolster his draft stock.