OU linebacker Owen Heinecke named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

NORMAN - University of Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke is the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday, according to a SoonerSports.com release. The honor follows OU's 23-15 win at Mississippi State on Saturday.

Heinecke made 10 tackles, 2.0 of them for loss, including a sack. That tied for the game high and is the most by a Sooner in any game this season. In the second quarter he forced a fumble at the OU 4-yard line that defensive lineman Taylor Wein recovered, and Oklahoma drove 96 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 halftime lead.

The fifth-year player from Tulsa has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in six of OU's seven games. He leads the Sooners this season with 6.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries. It is his second SEC weekly award and the fifth for OU this season, the release said.

Oklahoma (4-3, 2-2 SEC) hosts South Carolina (4-3, 2-3 SEC) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, in the homecoming game. Kickoff is 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Source: SoonerSports.com release, "Heinecke Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week," Oct. 26, 2026