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Cleveland County
Serving Cleveland County, OklahomaVol. 1, No. 12
Sports

OU linebacker Owen Heinecke named Butkus Award semifinalist

Sports desk
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026In the Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 edition

NORMAN - University of Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award, given to the nation's outstanding linebacker, according to a SoonerSports.com release. The Butkus Foundation announced the list Wednesday.

Heinecke, a fifth-year player from Tulsa who joined the program as a walk-on, has started all seven of OU's games. He leads the team with 54 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries, and he has 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week this week after a 10-tackle game in the win at Mississippi State.

Finalists will be announced Nov. 20 and the winner the week of Dec. 7, the release said. Three Sooners have won the award: Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986), Rocky Calmus (2001) and Teddy Lehman (2003).

Oklahoma (4-3, 2-2 SEC) hosts South Carolina for homecoming Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Source: SoonerSports.com release, "Heinecke Named Butkus Award Semifinalist," Oct. 28, 2026

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