Former Penn State football safety Zakee Wheatley was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 151 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. His selection makes him the fifth Nittany Lion off the board in this year’s class, with teammates Vega Ioane, Drew Allar, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Drew Shelton representing the first four.

Over the course of his five seasons in Happy Valley, Wheatley was dubbed the “Takeaway King” and cemented himself as one of the premier pieces of the Penn State secondary. The Crofton, Maryland, native tallied 222 total tackles, 144 solo tackles, and six interceptions during his time with the blue and white. He also accumulated five tackles-for-loss and six pass breakups in 28 starts with the team.

The 6’3”, 203-pounder is poised to fit in well with a Panthers team in need of reinforcements in the defensive backfield. Despite regressing from his breakout junior year during his final collegiate season, Wheatley’s versatility in the passing game will look to have an immediate impact with Carolina, which surrendered 327 passing yards per game in 2025.

After announcing his return to State College for a fifth year following the conclusion of the team’s run to the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal, Wheatley put up 74 total tackles, 51 solo tackles, and one interception in 2025. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and started all 12 of Penn State’s regular-season games.

In addition to being a versatile pass defender, the Panthers are getting an athlete who is strong against the run and has an impressive range. Wheatley will have a buddy in Carolina, joining former Penn State safety Nick Scott in the defensive back room.

To see where the rest of Wheatley’s fellow Nittany Lions go, folks can tune into the remainder of the 2026 NFL Draft. Day three begins at noon on Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The final four rounds will be televised on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network.