Zakee Wheatley

● Tall, long frame with adequate definition and room to add more mass ● Balanced, fluid athlete who has ankle flexion and lower-body agility ● Marginal top-end speed but good closing burst when closing ground ● Improved feel for route development and spacing in zone coverage ● Plays with body control and ball skills of a wide receiver around the catch point (see his one-handed interception vs. 2025 Iowa) ● Physical tackler — drops his shoulder into the lower half of the ball carrier 582 Back to table of contents -- 586 of 629 -- ● Creates knockback when attacking screen/perimeter blocks ● Didn’t commit a penalty in college ● Described as “high energy” — NFL scouts say his work ethic and leadership behind the scenes matured each year

● Mediocre take-on and tackling strength as a finisher ● Flies downhill in run support but often sacrifices technique, leading to ankle-biting or fly-by attempts ● Gets pinballed by blockers when aligned at the line ● Lacks ideal long speed for the position ● More comfortable in zone than man; not proven when stressed vertically one-on-one ● Ball production declined in 2025 (only pass breakup came versus FIU) ● Didn’t play on special teams (aside from field goal blocks) as a junior and senior

A two-year starter at Penn State, Wheatley was a boundary safety in former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme, splitting his snaps between the box and one- or two-high looks. After a productive 2024 season, he entered this past season as my top-ranked senior safety prospect and was one of the more consistent parts of the Penn State defense, despite a decrease in his ball production. A lean, stretched-out athlete, Wheatley needs to be more consistent with his run-fit angles and finishing skills, but he is a willing run defender with a decisive downhill trigger. In coverage, he plays with balance and ball skills with a solid feel for route concepts, although on-ball production is missing from his 2025 tape. Overall, 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.