The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best linebacker units in college football, even if many of the national analysts don't give them the respect they deserve. On Thursday, Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke were named to the Butkus Award watch list.
The Butkus Award is given out to the best linebacker in the country. The Sooners are tied for the most all-time with four but haven't won the award since Teddy Lehman took home the Butkus in 2003. Rocky Calmus won it in 2001. Brian Bosworth is the only two-time recipient of the award, winning it in 1985 and 1986.
Lewis and Heinecke are entering their final year with the Sooners after huge seasons for Oklahoma's defense in 2025. Lewis led the Sooners with 76 total tackles. He also had 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups, and 21 total pressures. Heinecke was second on the team with 74 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He also had three sacks and four pass breakups.
The duo is one of the more dynamic linebacker pairs in the country, making plays against the run, the pass, and putting pressure on the quarterback. Part of what makes the Oklahoma defense so good is what Lewis and Heinecke bring to the table at the second level of the defense. And they'll be a big reason why the Sooners are one of the best defenses in the country in 2026.
Heinecke, Lewis » Butkus Award Watch List
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Pair of Sooners named to Butkus Award watch list