The Sooners' veteran tandem aims to restore Norman’s defensive legacy as they headline the pursuit for college football’s most prestigious linebacker honor ahead of a grueling SEC schedule
Oklahoma linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke both made the Butkus Award watch list, which goes to the best linebacker in the country. It’s good early recognition for two guys who produced last season and are back for one more year in Norman.
Lewis led the team with 76 tackles in 2025. He also had 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups, and 21 pressures. Heinecke finished right behind him with 74 tackles and a team-high 12 tackles for loss, plus three sacks and four pass breakups. Those are solid numbers, and it’s easy to see why both got noticed.
Oklahoma actually has a strong history with this award. The Sooners are tied for the most winners ever with four, but it’s been a long time since the last one. Brian Bosworth won it twice in 1985 and 1986. Rocky Calmus took it in 2001, and Teddy Lehman was the most recent in 2003. Having two players on the preseason list is a nice nod to that past even if the program hasn’t brought the award back to Norman in over 20 years.
The award itself has been around since 1985 and is named after Dick Butkus, the old Illinois and Bears linebacker who played the position as physical as anyone ever has. It’s one of the more respected individual honors in college football, and the selection committee is made up of scouts and writers who actually watch the film.
For Lewis and Heinecke, this is just the starting point. Watch lists in August don’t mean much by themselves. What matters is how they play through an SEC schedule. Lewis has the physical tools and range to make plays all over the field. Heinecke brings experience, smarts, and the ability to run the defense from the middle. Both fit what Brent Venables wants at linebacker. It’s also a good sign for the position group as a whole.
Lewis was named a preseason Second-Team All-American selection by ESPN this week, and Bosworth has been very vocal in his belief that he could be one of the best linebackers in the country this season.
Although Heinecke is a veteran, he didn't really start to takeoff until the second half of last year, with many believing he has untapped potential entering his final season in Norman.
The Sooners' linebacker room is stacked beyond just Heinecke and Lewis. If Cole Sullivan and Reggie Powers III have a big year, they could also enter the discussion for the Butkus Award, despite not making the preseason watch list.
Sullivan's role is still to be determined. He was brought in from Michigan to replace Heinecke when he was initially going to the NFL. Now Sullivan could backup Heinecke at the middle linebacker spot, or could compete with Powers for the starting cheetah linebacker role.
Oklahoma has some depth and experience there, and both of these guys have already shown they can produce. If either one builds on last year and stays consistent, they’ll stick in the conversation as the season goes on.
Making the Butkus watch list is solid recognition. Now it comes down to doing it again on Saturdays. Lewis and Heinecke have the tape from last year to build on.
The next step is turning that into another strong season and seeing how far it takes them in the award race.
