Ourlads' Profile:
2026 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about ZAKEE WHEATLEY:
Penn State | Hometown: Crofton, MD | HT: 6027 | WT: 202 | 40 time: 4.62 | Hand: 0912 | Arm: 3100 | Wing: 7614
Two-year starter. Two-time All-Big 10 honorable mention. Notably tall safety prospect with an undersized frame. Leader on the back end of the defense who communicates adjustments and gets everyone set. Long, rangy athlete who makes extensive ground quickly. Strong instincts and excellent read and react skills; recognizes plays very quickly and adjusts accordingly. Always around the football. Flies like a missile into the box to make plays at the line versus the run. Will throw his whole body into ball carriers to get them to the ground. Smooth backpedal matched with excellent agility and foot quickness when dropping into his zone. Possesses the range and recognition skills to be a true one-high safety at the next level. Considerable man coverage ability and can stick to receivers with loose hips, athleticism, and eye discipline. Underneath he has an excellent feel for receivers around him and will take away throwing lanes. Proven ball skills with six career interceptions; can track the ball underneath and over the top, and will fly into receivers to break up passes. Collapses on quarterbacks rolling out with his imposing burst. Solid angles in space and will crush runners in the open field to finish tackles. High motor defender who makes plays consistently with second effort. His aggressiveness can take him out of the play when the ball goes outside; gets sucked into the box. Fringe block destruction; struggles to disengage from blocking receivers on the perimeter. Must get more consistent with his tackling. Has proven he can tackle, but often does not use proper technique. Occasionally will allow cutback lanes in one-on-one tackling situations in space. Older prospect who is getting drafted at 24 years old.
2025 Stats: 74 T, 2 TFL, 1 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 INT. VJ-32.5. Draft projection: 2nd/3rd round