Zakee Wheatley Soaks Up Senior Bowl Spotlight, Leads Strong Penn State Contingent in Mobile
MOBILE, Ala. - Zakee Wheatley wasn’t just another name on the Senior Bowl roster this week - he was a presence. The Penn State safety, standing tall at nearly 6-foot-3, was easy to spot as he scanned the field after Thursday’s practice, rounding up teammates for a photo op.
Zane Durant? Check.
Kaytron Allen? Check.
Dani Dennis-Sutton? Still looking.
Nick Singleton? In the locker room nursing an injury.
Wheatley wanted a picture - not for social media clout, but because it meant something. Sharing the field in Mobile with fellow Nittany Lions was a full-circle moment after four years in Happy Valley.
“It means everything to have those guys here,” Wheatley said. “It was four seasons, years of my life. To see those guys in that helmet with me, it means the world.”
And what a helmet it is - the clean, all-white Penn State lid, standing out among the dozens of college logos scattered across Hancock Whitney Stadium. But Wheatley didn’t just show up to be seen. He came to compete, and he’s been turning heads all week.
From Tuesday through Thursday, Wheatley was one of the most consistent performers on the National Team’s defense. His length and instincts popped in drills, and he moved with the kind of fluidity you want from a modern safety - able to diagnose plays quickly, break on the ball decisively, and cover ground in a hurry.
He’ll get one more chance to put it on tape in Saturday’s Senior Bowl game (2:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network), where the National Team will square off against a talented American Team featuring LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Notre Dame wideout Malachi Fields, and USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane.
“For me, to come out here and compete with the best in the country means a lot,” Wheatley said.
There’s a growing sense that Wheatley’s stock is on the rise. He’s in the mix to be the first Penn State player from this Senior Bowl group to come off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That’s saying something, considering the Nittany Lions are well-represented in Mobile. Vega Ioane - a junior offensive lineman - is projected as a potential first-rounder and ranks No. 33 overall on ESPN’s big board.
But Wheatley (No. 83), Singleton (No.
66), Dennis-Sutton (No. 72), and Allen (No. 98) are all clustered in that Day 2-3 sweet spot.
Wheatley earned that buzz the hard way. His breakout came in 2024, when he racked up 96 tackles and capped the year with a statement performance in the Fiesta Bowl, earning Defensive MVP honors in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Even though Penn State fell short in the semifinal, Wheatley’s stock was already climbing.
He had a decision to make after that season - declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, return for another year, or enter the transfer portal. In today’s college football landscape, the portal is the go-to move for many. But Wheatley stayed put.
“I had a chance to leave and hop in the portal,” he said. “We all know how crazy the portal is.
But I never did that. I had my loyalty to Penn State, to Coach Franklin, to Coach Terry Smith, Coach Anthony Poindexter, and I wouldn’t go back and change that for anything.”
That loyalty paid off. While Penn State’s 2025 season didn’t quite live up to expectations, Wheatley remained one of the team’s most reliable performers. He finished with 74 tackles and earned an 85.9 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus - the eighth-best among FBS safeties with at least 650 snaps.
Now, he’s entering the final stretch of the pre-draft process. After the Senior Bowl comes the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, then Penn State’s pro day in March, followed by private workouts and team visits. But right now, it’s all about Saturday - one more chance to show scouts what he can do, and to represent Penn State with pride.
“Me and the guys are going to represent Penn State well,” Wheatley said. “We’re going to keep going and keep putting on for Penn State.
The amount of growth I had as a person, as a player, as a man - I just appreciate Penn State for that. I’m forever blessed for that.”
In a week designed to separate the good from the great, Zakee Wheatley’s making sure his name stays in the conversation. And if his performance in Mobile is any indication, he’s not done climbing.