Zakee Wheatley flourishing in leadership role for Penn State defense

Penn State football has yet to officially announce its team captains for the 2025 season. But inside the Lasch Building, leadership has already started to develop organically as the Nittany Lions exit summer workouts.

Among those who have clearly found a voice inside the locker room this offseason is safety Zakee Wheatley. Speaking to the media on Monday, Nittany Lions strength coach Chuck Losey explained how the redshirt senior has taken charge on and off the field.

“I‘m really excited and really happy about the development of Zakee Wheatley from a leadership standpoint,” Losey said. “Jay Reed was such a strong presence on the defense last year at that safety position, and across the board on defense. Zig has kind of taken the reins and he’s run with it.

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“Two years ago, three years ago, when he first got here, to be able to project that – I always knew he’d be a really good ball player for us. I didn’t know how good of a leader down the road he would be. And I’m really proud of him and his development from a leadership standpoint. I mean, he’s turned into a guy who, he’s one of the first guys in the weight room every day. He thrives in everything that we do out on the field from a movement standpoint, a lifting standpoint, recovery standpoint. He’s just kind of a model citizen for us now.

“I‘m happy. I think he’s going to level up this year with his play.”

THE TAKEAWAY KING ‼️

Zakee Wheatley X Law & Order

Bag year @ZakeeWheatley pic.twitter.com/KCMWa8fw6j

— The Basic Blues Podcast (@BasicBluesPod) February 7, 2025

With Jaylen Reed’s departure for the NFL, Wheatley now becomes the anchor of the Penn State defensive backs room. The Crofton, Maryland, native is the most productive piece of the 2024 defense to come back to Happy Valley this year, leading all returning Nittany Lions in tackles (96) and takeaways (3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries).

Wheatley has already assumed leadership responsibilities this summer, becoming one of three players preparing to join James Franklin at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas next Wednesday. Even with the season opener over six weeks away, Wheatley has clearly established himself as a face of the Nittany Lions program this fall.

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