MOBILE, Ala. — Zakee Wheatley stood on his tip-toes looking for his Penn State teammates at the Senior Bowl. He corralled Zane Durant and called over Kaytron Allen. He couldn’t find Dani Dennis-Sutton, and, unfortunately, Nick Singleton was in the locker room tending to an injury.
Wheatley wanted to get a post-practice picture Thursday with his fellow Nittany Lions. He was all smiles, pointing to his all-white helmet after the photo was taken. The standout safety was relishing in the fact that Penn State was so heavily represented in Mobile.
“It means everything to have those guys here,” Wheatley told PennLive. “It was four seasons, years of my life. To see those guys in that helmet with me, it means the world.”
It also means the world to Wheatley to have the opportunity to display his talents at the Senior Bowl, one of the top showcase events in the pre-draft process.
Wheatley stood out during practice sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. After measuring in at nearly 6-foot-3, he showed off that range at Hancock Whitney Stadium. He moved well. He diagnosed plays quickly. He closed in on the ball with ease.
Wheatley was hoping to put out similar tape in Saturday’s Senior Bowl game.
“To come out here and compete with the best in the country means a lot to me,” Wheatley said.
Wheatley could be a high-end pick himself in a few months. There’s even a chance he’s the first Penn Stater at the Senior Bowl to come off the board in the 2026 NFL draft.
Junior offensive lineman Vega Ioane is projected by some to be a first-rounder and is ESPN’s No. 33 overall player. But everyone at the Senior Bowl — Singleton (No. 66 overall), Dennis-Sutton (No. 72), Wheatley (No. 83) and Allen (No. 98) — are right in the same range.
Wheatley finds himself in such high regard after a pair of productive seasons. The Maryland native broke out in a big way in 2024. He racked up 96 tackles and was named the Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP in the CFP quarterfinals before Penn State fell a few points short in the semis.
After that strong first year as a full-time starter, Wheatley had a decision to make. He could have left for the 2025 NFL draft. He could come back to Penn State.
Or there was another option — one that was available to him earlier in his career, too.
“I had a chance to leave and hop in the portal,” Wheatley said. “We all know how crazy the portal is. But I never did that. I had my loyalty to Penn State, to Coach (James) Franklin, to coach Terry Smith, coach Anthony Poindexeter, and I wouldn’t go back and change that for anything.”
Wheatley was one of many contributors, including Dennis-Sutton, Singleton, Allen and Durant, who came back. Penn State didn’t have the season anyone thought it would. But Wheatley played well yet again. He racked up 74 tackles and posted a 85.9 PFF defensive grade, the eighth-best among FBS safeties who logged at least 650 snaps.
Now Wheatley has a chance to wrap up a strong Senior Bowl and propel himself forward in the pre-draft process. He’ll be at the NFL Scouting Combine next month, followed by Penn State’s pro day in March and private team visits after that.
“Me and the guys are going to represent Penn State well. We’re going to keep going and keep putting on for Penn State,” Wheatley said. “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.”