Wheatley celebrating birthday at scouting combine
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley shares why he was a "Swiss Army knife" in college, how he battled adversity last season, if he played other sports as a kid, what he is doing to celebrate his birthday this year and more.
Video Transcript
Connor Rogers here at the NFL Combine alongside Joshua Perry and Zakee Wheatley, safety out of Penn State.
Man, the first thing that jumps out on tape, you were asked to do so many different things.
We see snaps in the slot, in the box, free safety.
What was your role like for the Nittany Lions defense?
yes, sir.
So for me personally, I feel like I was a Swiss Army knife.
had a new DC come in, so just coming in with that mindset to be able to help the team in any way possible, whether that was being in a box, blitzing, covering a slot, or, being in a post.
You mentioned new DC, Jim Knowles.
he's a guy who's known for having a complex defense, guys moving around a lot.
What was the learning process like for you in getting into the new defense?
it was great for me.
like I said, I had four DCs, so I was pretty used to, you know, learning new defenses and getting equipped to that.
So having Jim Knowles and the defense with his complex, I think it prepared me a lot for the league.
So we've heard your birthday's in two days.
Yes, sir.
What is it like having a birthday at the maybe the biggest job interview of your life?
it's a blessing.
You know, it's a lot.
Won't really be celebrating it- but I'll be celebrating it here on the field.
Yeah.
and, and just enjoying my time here.
You need to tell your agent to get you a birthday cake or something.
You gotta celebrate.
Sure.
when, when you walked up, the first thing I said to you is, "You look like a linebacker."
Right, yes.
I mean, you've got great size.
Like, how, how big of a tool is that for you on the football field?
I think it's, I think it's a great tool, big tool, you know.
playing safety, you know, in the Big Ten, it requires you- Oh, yeah you know, be tough and be resistant and durable, and, I think that helps a lot with me just, like, avoiding injuries.
You know, I've never missed a game at Penn State in five years, so I think that's, that's a big part of it, just being strong.
We've seen year after year, the Penn State guys show up here- Yeah and it's, it's just wild, the strength and conditioning program they have.
How has that given you a head start on this process?
A ton.
You know, I give a, a big props to Chuck Loese, the head strength He's now at Virginia Tech and Coach Franklin.
But, throughout my time there, you know, he got me right.
so that's, you know, credit to him, credit to my work ethic, and just, working hard.
It was a weird year for Penn State, obviously, with the preseason expectations and then the way that things played out.
In the locker room, what kind of role did you play in, in keeping guys mentally involved, and, and how did you handle all that?
just being myself, being a leader- Yeah you know.
I've been on at Penn State for five years, so I- Yeah I've seen, I've seen the best of Penn State- Yep and, you know, this year was the lows.
But just m- making sure everybody know the standard, the culture of Penn State, and, reminding everyone throughout the pro- throughout the week.
I'll s- I'll say, like, watching tape of you guys and, and covering the Big Ten conference, like, you guys played hard every single game.
Yeah.
By the end of the year, you could certainly see the improvement there.
So I'll say it's a, a credit to guys like you, leaders in the locker room- Yes, sir that you were able to, to, you know, stay on it.
Yes, sir.
Is there anything you could, like, positive you could take away from that adversity, though?
I know nobody wants to go into a season and, and s- you know, suffer some losses, but now you look back and go, "You know what?
I, I was able to learn this from that kind of year."
definitely.
You know, coming to the year, you know, everyone's plans and goals were to win a national championship, and, you know, we worked really hard to do that.
So, you know, facing these challenges, it just taught you, you know, keep your head down, perseverance, and at the end of the day, when you strap up your cleats, you're doing it for the love of the game.
You know, we mentioned the versatility that you have on the field.
You've also got really good range.
So, you know, talk to us about your ability to, to eat up space on the field.
yes, sir.
I think that's a credit to my, my father.
You know, he put me in sports at a young age.
Yeah.
I played baseball, basketball, soccer.
Played in the outfield, so I think that, that helps my range a lot.
Was there a time where you were leaning to maybe go further with one of those sports instead, or has it always been football?
truly, football has always been my first love.
I played baseball and basketball in high school as well.
Yeah.
I think basketball was the closest one to that, but my father alway- always said, "Would you rather be a, a 6'3" point guard or a 6'3" DB?"
So that, that always stuck with me.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's good advice.
6'3" DB.
Dad knows what he's talking about.
Yeah, we like those guys around here.
Yeah.
So tell me, training for the combine, very different than what you do as a football player.
So break down the, the day-to-day and, and how you're, you're getting through your training.
yes, sir.
So I'm currently training in San Diego right now, so I'm from Maryland, so the weather change is, is nice right now.
San Diego is beautiful.
Definitely.
you know, it's a lot of recovery, a lot of different training, a lot of, high-tense muscles.
You know, it's different than going in the weight room and putting 400 on your back, but more about how can you use your, your strength for explosion.
So, all that's been super nice and been a blessing.
So we've read that you'd like to get your MBA eventually.
Yes, sir.
I- what are your aspirations outside of football?
just business.
You know, I'm trying to be entrepreneurship.
I got my, degree in telecommunications right now from Penn State, so, using that and using my connections, you know, Penn State has one of the biggest alumnis in the country.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, just using that and who I am as a person and my degree to, you know, further my career outside of football.
Is there a certain kind of business you'd want to start?
not necessarily.
I'm, I'm still looking into that part.
So you mentioned the alumni base.
You also got a ton of guys from that program who've been in the league.
Yes, sir.
Are there, are there any dudes that you talked to in your preparation for, for the combine and ultimately going into the NFL?
yes, sir, all the time.
Tig, Jaire Brown- Yeah that was a, a big role model.
He was one of my favorites.
Yes, sir.
Yeah.
And leader for me.
Great dude.
You know, me and him talk all the time.
And I can go to people closer to my age, like last year, you know, Kevin Winston- Yeah and Jalen Reed.
Yep.
just having those guys that was in the safety room and being able to lean on and talk to them during this process been, been a big blessing.
So are you one of seven siblings?
Yes, sir.
How much does that help having that Like, is that a competitive environment growing up?
Definitely.
Yeah.
Definitely.
You know, growing up, it was a competitive household.
Right?
So whether it was football or checkers or shooting the basketball, I can name it, tackling, you know, it was Everything was about being competitive, you know.
Even my sister, I always say, you know, she, she's tougher than most boys just 'cause, you know, she had the opportunity to be in the house with me and my brothers.
Six boys and one- Oh, no.
So I have a younger brother and a younger sister who's blood.
Okay.
My dad remarried, so I got six, seven siblings now.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Where are you in the birth order?
so out of my, blood, I'm the oldest, and I'm second oldest- Okay everyone right now.
All right.
Hey.
Yeah, yeah.
You take on a little bit of a leadership role that way.
Leave it to look up to you.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Man, Zakee Wheatley, man, we, we've loved watching you play.
We can't wait to see what you do at the next level.
Thank you.
And we really appreciate you stopping by.
Appreciate you guys a lot.
