Heinecke Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma redshirt junior linebacker Owen Heinecke has been named a semifinalist for the celebrated William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation introduced Wednesday.

The Campbell Trophy, in its thirty sixth 12 months, is awarded to the best possible soccer scholar-athlete within the nation for his mixed educational success, soccer efficiency and exemplary management.

Heinecke acquired his bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration in December 2024 and is pursuing a grasp’s diploma in accountancy. He graduated with a 3.59 undergraduate GPA and maintains a 4.0 GPA in graduate faculty.

Heinecke was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2024, earned Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll distinction in 4 of his accomplished semesters, was named to the OU President’s Honor Roll (4.0 semester GPA) for 2 semesters and was on the Dean’s Honor Roll (3.5+ semester GPA) for 3 semesters. He served as a recreation captain for OU’s 2024 contest at Ole Miss.

The Tulsa, Okla., product has seen his on-field position improve considerably this season. After totaling 11 tackles in 26 video games over the past two seasons whereas enjoying totally on particular groups, Heinecke has performed in all 4 video games this season as a part of the first linebacker rotation. He ranks fifth on the staff in complete tackles (14), which incorporates 3.0 tackles for loss and one sack, and has registered two go breakups. He entered this season with no tackles for loss and no go breakups.

Off the sector, Heinecke has volunteered throughout OU’s open weeks and different occasions all year long to enhance the Oklahoma City metropolitan neighborhood. For the final three years, Owen has hung out through the staff’s open weeks working with the 111 Project to construct greater than 300 beds for kids concerned in youngster welfare throughout the state of Oklahoma and to pack and ship baggage of provides for foster households within the Norman space. He additionally visited a neighborhood group dwelling to mentor among the youth residing within the dwelling. This week, Heinecke and his teammates labored with the Beacon Project to place collectively care packages of college provides and garments for kids in the area people.

In January 2023, he helped with the beautification of a two-mile stretch of Martin Luther King Ave. in Oklahoma City, labored on the neighborhood backyard and helped paint and clear up the grounds of The Bridge Impact Center for youth and younger adults in Oklahoma City. In 2024, he and teammates packed greater than 40,000 meals to be despatched to individuals in want in Haiti. Additionally, for the final three years, Heinecke has labored with the OU Children’s Hospital and Art with a Heart (a philanthropic occasion benefiting the Oklahoma Children’s Cancer Association, Cavett Kids Foundation and the Okay Club).

Heinecke started his faculty profession at Ohio State University, the place he performed lacrosse for one season and appeared in three video games. His uncle, Cory Heinecke, was an OU defensive finish from 1999-2001 and member of Sooners’ 2000 nationwide championship staff.


The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and every of them will obtain an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will journey to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9. During the occasion, one member of the category will probably be declared the winner of the thirty sixth Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship elevated to $25,000.

Nominated by their faculties, candidates for the award have to be a senior of their closing 12 months of enjoying eligibility or graduate pupil or graduate switch who has already earned a level, have a GPA of not less than 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have excellent soccer capability as a first-team participant or important contributor and have demonstrated robust management and citizenship. The class is chosen every year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally acknowledged group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics directors.

Former Sooner middle Ty Darlington was awarded the Campbell Trophy in 2015, and former middle Gabe Ikard and former defensive again Pat Fields had been finalists in 2013 and 2021, respectively.