So You Drafted Zakee Wheatley…

TL;DR

Zakee Wheatley, a four-star recruit from Maryland, played five seasons for Penn State, totaling 223 tackles and six interceptions. He was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and earned Defensive Player of the Game honors in the Fiesta Bowl.

Key points

Zakee Wheatley is a four-star recruit from Maryland.
He played five seasons for Penn State.
Wheatley recorded 223 tackles and six interceptions.
He earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition.
He was named Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game.

Zakee WheatleyPenn State Nittany LionsFiesta BowlCollege Football Playoff

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley (6) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Skinny

A four-star recruit from Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland, Zakee Wheatley appeared in 58 games for Penn State across five years, racking up 223 tackles, five tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and six interceptions in 28 starts. He was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media.

Wheatley appeared in just four games as a true freshman, then flashed playmaking ability in his second season with 27 tackles, a forced fumble, and two interceptions across 12 games. During his breakout redshirt junior season, he started all 16 games at safety, racking up 96 total tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He played a crucial role in Penn State’s College Football Playoff run, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass against Boise State to earn Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors. In the semifinal against Notre Dame, he collected a career-high 16 tackles, along with a sack and an interception.

After earning the starting job in 2024, Wheatley returned for a fifth season in 2025 and posted another productive campaign with 74 tackles and an interception, earning the highest PFF grade among Nittany Lion defenders. Wheatley was dubbed the “Takeaway King” for his ball-magnet ability in the secondary, and his versatility —playing corner and safety with occasional looks at linebacker in certain packages, intrigued NFL teams.