Owen Heinecke, Kip Lewis' Differing Personalities Have Elevated Oklahoma's LB Room

Owen Heinecke and Kip Lewis were both stars for the Sooners in 2025, and their opposite leadership styles have helped the defense improve.

Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis talks to Owen Heinecke and Brent Venables during one of OU's elite prospect camps. | Carson Field / Sooners On SI

NORMAN — Oklahoma’s two most experienced linebackers couldn’t be any more different.

On one side is Owen Heinecke, who describes himself as “levelheaded” and composed. On the other is Kip Lewis, who Heinecke says is “all over the place.”

But according to Heinecke — a Tulsa native entering his fifth year with the Sooners — the differing personalities has allowed OU’s linebacker room to thrive.

“I like to think we’re kind of yin and yang,” Heinecke said. “Playing next to Kip is awesome.”

Heinecke and Lewis were both stars in their own right in 2025.

A former walk-on, Heinecke registered 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and three sacks. His outstanding campaign followed his previous three seasons in which he logged only 11 tackles.

Heinecke went through the NFL pre-draft process after the 2025 season, thinking that he wouldn’t have any eligibility remaining. But the Cleveland County District Court granted Heinecke’s injunction against the NCAA, clearing the path for him to play in 2026.

Heinecke took a massive step forward in 2025. And his goal for 2026 aligns with his cool and collected persona.

“This year, for me it’s about slowing the game down, seeing more things, being able to call out what the offense is doing and seeing tendencies,” Heinecke said. “Helping everybody else out around me, not just focusing on my job, my assignment, but being able to help everybody else.

Lewis is also entering his fifth season at Oklahoma, and the 2026 campaign will be his fourth as a key contributor. Over the last three seasons, Lewis has notched 207 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups and two interceptions.

Heinecke describes his linebacker counterpart as someone who is restless — in the best way possible.

“He’s all over the place, tracking 8,000 yards at practice because he’s just pacing the field up and down the whole time,” Heinecke said. “He brings a light and energy that’s unmatched.”

Between Heinecke, Lewis and Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan, the top of the linebacker room should be one of the best in the SEC.

But the players behind those three are less proven. James Nesta and Marcus James are the most likely candidates for playing time behind the three veterans.

Though Heinecke, Lewis and Sullivan will almost certainly see the most snaps in 2026, Heinecke emphasized the importance of having “no drop off between the ones and twos.” 

And according to Heinecke, the “yin and yang” between Lewis and him have allowed for steady growth throughout the linebacker room — and the entire defense — throughout the offseason.

“Everybody’s been flying around,” Heinecke said. “The growth has been exponential, and we’re all having fun together, which I think is the biggest part. So, we’re all ready for the season and ready to show you guys what we’ve been working on.”

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