One of Penn State’s main starting defenders will return for the upcoming campaign.
Zakee Wheatley, a redshirt junior safety, declared on Monday night that he plans to rejoin Penn State for the 2025 campaign. Wheatley’s last one in Happy Valley will be next year.
The move isn’t particularly shocking, but it’s crucial for Anthony Poindexter’s safety room and Tom Allen’s defense, which will be without standout senior Jaylen Reed and NFL Draft prospect Kevin Winston Jr.
Wheatley, a native of Crofton, Maryland, has started every one of the 14 games this season and leads the Nittany Lions in tackles (77). With four pass breakups in 2024, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble, he has maintained his knack for the ball throughout his career.
This spring and throughout the offseason, James Franklin and other staff members insisted that Wheatley, who began his Lions career as a cornerback, was beginning to see things come together. With his three greatest tackling totals against Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Oregon, the safety has undoubtedly played his best ball this season and stepped up in crucial games.
Franklin stated in October, “I believe Zakee keeps playing faster, more aggressively, and with more confidence.”
Despite playing in every one of the previous two seasons’ 13 games, Wheatley’s contribution was comparatively small. In both years, he recorded 52 tackles.
With Penn State still working to develop star freshman Dejuan Lane at safety, Wheatley will have the opportunity to coach some younger Nittany Lions at the back end. Antoine Belgrave-Shorter and Vaboue Toure have also had some time as freshmen this year.
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