After five years in Happy Valley, Penn State football safety Zakee Wheatley is set to make the jump to the next level at the 2026 NFL Draft next week.

The Crofton, Maryland, native appeared in 58 games for the Nittany Lions, racking up 223 tackles, five tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and six interceptions in 28 starts.

Wheatley was a four-star recruit out of Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland, where he played both safety and receiver. As part of the 2021 recruiting class, he was ranked as the No. 24 safety and the No. 15 overall recruit in the state of Maryland, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. Wheatley chose Penn State over Notre Dame, West Virginia, Boston College, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, among others.

Wheatley appeared in just four games as a true freshman. He flashed playmaking ability in his second season, totaling 27 tackles, a forced fumble, and two interceptions across 12 games. As a redshirt sophomore, Wheatley continued to fight for playing time in a safety room that included KJ Winston, King Mack, Jaylen Reed, Dejaun Lane, Keaton Ellis, and more.

During his breakout redshirt junior season, he started all 16 games at safety for Penn State, racking up 96 total tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries en route to earning All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media. The safety played a crucial part in Penn State’s College Football Playoff run, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass against Boise State to earn the Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors. Then, in the Nittany Lions’ semi-final matchup against Notre Dame, he collected a career-high 16 tackles, along with a sack and an interception.

After opting to return to Penn State for a fifth season rather than go pro, Wheatley’s production, along with that of most of Penn State’s team, dipped. Still, he logged 74 total tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception across his final 12 starts for the blue and white. The safety excelled in coverage, allowing just 36 yards on the season, according to Pro Football Focus. He received All-Big Ten honorable mention from coaches and media.

After declaring for the NFL Draft in December, Wheatley participated in just the vertical jump and broad jump at the 2026 NFL Combine, where he turned in a 32.5″ and 10’2″, respectively. At Penn State’s Pro Day, Wheatley ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash and bettered his broad jump to a 10’4″.

Measuring in at 6’3″, 203 pounds with a 76-inch wingspan, Wheatley boasts the prototypical lengthy frame that NFL teams covet for secondary defenders, allowing him to fit into various schemes or line up in multiple spots along a defense.

“Wheatley is an alert, fluid athlete who can be versatile in the passing game and productive as a key-and-drive defender. He has starting potential in a zone scheme, preferably with a two-high foundation, but also offers nickel and dime flexibility,” said Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

While he didn’t display blazing speed in his pre-draft testing, Wheatley has a natural, fluid movement style that often puts him in position to make plays on the field, which is evident in his 11 career forced turnovers and zero career penalties at Penn State.

“He’s rangy with the ability to play over the top or close quickly to limit run-after-catch. Physicality near the line is average, but he competes and stays in the fight. His tackle radius is wide, but he needs cleaner pursuit angles and better play strength to limit missed tackles,” said NFL Draft Analyst Lance Zurlein of Wheatley.

Draft analysts have Wheatley ranked as a top-100 player, leading to a consensus day-two grade.

Overall, his consistent ability to fit into gaps against the run, break on the ball, and remain fluid in coverage is a transferable skill for Wheatley, who projects to see a load of reps as a versatile defensive back early in his NFL career.

The NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, and ends on Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All seven rounds will be televised on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network.