Experience, anticipation, and a knack for the takeaway have defined Zakee Wheatley’s Penn State career. The fifth-year safety has seen the program climb to the College Football Playoff, survive coaching turnover, and now fight to stay above .500 in 2025 all while he racks up tackles and turnovers from the back end.
Philadelphia Background and Redshirt Season
Wheatley played his high school ball at Archbishop Spalding in Maryland after growing up in Philadelphia. He was a two-way star at wide receiver and defensive back and earned four-star marks before committing to Penn State over LSU and Maryland. A 2021 redshirt year gave him time to adjust to the physicality of the college game.
Emerging Ball Hawk in 2022
His first full season in the rotation showcased his range. Wheatley logged 27 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2022 while rotating at safety and on special teams. The coaching staff loved his closing speed and how quickly he triggered downhill in run support.
Steady 2023, Expanded 2024 Role
Wheatley added 24 tackles in 2023, but the best was yet to come. He became a full-time starter in 2024 and erupted for 96 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, and four pass breakups across 16 games. His ability to disguise coverage and bait quarterbacks led to a handful of game-turning plays, including a pick-six against UCLA.
Senior Leadership in 2025
Penn State’s 2025 season has been chaotic, yet Wheatley has remained one of the defense’s constants. Through eight games he has compiled 56 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup while playing virtually every defensive snap. Interim head coach Terry Smith leans on Wheatley to make coverage checks and keep a young cornerback room calm when the offense sputters.
Outlook Beyond College
At 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, Wheatley carries the frame NFL evaluators covet for split-safety schemes. He closes space with long strides, has reliable ball skills from his receiver days, and rarely misses in space. Continued production in the second half of 2025 could earn him invitations to postseason all-star games and put him firmly on draft boards as a mid-round prospect.
Zakee Wheatley’s steady presence has become Penn State’s security blanket in the secondary. Whether the assignment calls for robbing the middle of the field or matching tight ends in man coverage, the Nittany Lions trust their veteran to be in the right spot at the right time.