With Penn State football defensive backs KJ Winston and Jaylen Reed heading to the NFL Draft, redshirt senior Zakee Wheatley is primed to take on the leadership role in the Nittany Lions’ secondary for the 2025 season.

Wheatley started all 16 games for Penn State last season, and his role only grew after Winston suffered a long-term injury and left the game against Bowling Green in week two of the 2024 season. He totaled 96 tackles, seven passes defended, and three interceptions, showcasing his prowess in the secondary.

With the departures of Winston and Reed, Wheatley’s focus turns to balancing the work of improving his own game while mentoring a young defensive backs room under the direction of co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter.

“Now, it’s the leadership,” Poindexter said after practice on Tuesday. “He has to be the leader in the room. He’s looking around now, he’s three years older than all these kids, and thinking, ‘I got to be the leader.'”

Poindexter said this is the first time Wheatley has needed to be the leader of the position group through his time at Penn State, commending him for his growth in that respect. He shared that Wheatley has gotten comfortable with the role, and he’s embracing the mentorship and brotherhood he provides for the young guys.

In addition, Poindexter touched on Wheatley’s chance to leave the program for the NFL Draft. He said he and Wheatley talked about the possibility, but that the defensive back chose to stay to hone his skills and pursue a national title with his final year of eligibility.

“I had a good last couple of games. I had a good season and everything,” Wheatley said. “But I feel like after those two games, I had a lot more to display. I feel like I knew what I need to do this offseason to make that an every-game thing, and that’s what I’m doing right now.”

Wheatley also said that learning from previous Penn State players like Jaquan Brisker, Ji’Ayir Brown, and Keaton Ellis has helped him form his own style of leadership now that he serves as the veteran presence in the position group.

“Everybody’s way of leading is different right now,” Wheatley said. “I’m really just learning, stepping into that role, doing what I need to do, seeing what I see fit, and being vocal. Leading by example, first off, and just coming here and being a great teammate.”

Wheatley credited a lot of his improvement over the past year to Poindexter, saying that he keeps it real and drives the group to get better every day. He said that Poindexter sets the standard at perfection while still maintaining the “fun” aspect of football. Wheatley reiterated how Poindexter’s energy reverberates into the players to foster a learning-first environment in the secondary.

Wheatley said he wants to step into his new leadership role with his own positive energy and to focus on getting one percent better every time he checks into the building. His role as a leader is based in him setting the example not only mentally, but physically, as well.

“You can’t lead anybody if you’re not doing it yourself,” Wheatley said. “So, just knowing what I tell them, I have to be doing 10 times harder and just bring a good, positive energy.”