Another Penn State safety is making his way to the big leagues.
Nittany Lion Zakee Wheatley was drafted No. 151 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round on Saturday afternoon, becoming the fifth Penn State player taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. He joins guard Vega Ioane, quarterback Drew Allar, offensive tackle Drew Shelton and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Wheatley spent five seasons repping the blue and white, developing into one of team’s defensive leaders as a multi-year starter. Wheatley was coveted for his willingness and consistency as a tackler and his penchant for generating takeaways.
As a Nittany Lion, he totaled 222 tackles, six interceptions and two forced fumbles, including several games with double-digit takedowns. Wheatley played a key role in the team’s 2024 College Football Playoff run, earning Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP accolades and adding 16 tackles in an Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame.
Wheatley became the fifth Penn State safety selected in the last five drafts, continuing a recent string of success from the room, including Jaquan Brisker in 2022, Ji’Ayir Brown in 2023 and Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed in 2024.
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