Overview

Position: S

College: Penn State

Class: Senior

Age: 24

 

Measurables

Height: 6’2 3/4″

Weight: 203 lbs.

Arm length: 31”

Hand size: 9 1/2″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: 32.5”

Broad jump: 122.0”

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Excellent overall size. Great instincts and reaction time in coverage. Terrific overall awareness. Will keep his eyes on the quarterback while jumping on opponents as a zone defender. Does a very good job getting on in-breaking routes from robber coverage. Great instincts and reaction time in underneath robber coverage. Instinctive coming up from centerfield. Reads the quarterback in deep coverage and will try to beat the receiver to the spot. Very good smoothness and quickness in the backpedal at his size. Efficient in basic cover transitions as a deep safety. Fast to trigger downhill as a deep safety to tackle on in-breaking routes. Aggressive and secure tackling in the open field after the catch. Can deliver a big hit at the catch point. Experience playing man coverage versus tight ends in the slot. Good ability to stick with routes turning up the field in man coverage. Flashed impressive ball skills. Outstanding ability to diagnose and tackle on screen passes. High intelligence and communicates before the snap. Rangy wrapping up to finish. Tremendous ability to come up as a deep safety and make a wrap-up tackle. Very reliable overall tackler as a deep safety. Very accurate striking and wrapping opponents at the thighs. Ideal aggression in pursuit from the backend. Works through traffic to reach the ball-carrier when filtering up as a deep safety. Very effective diving for tackles with speed in downhill pursuit. Very effective coming in to fill in run support at the second level. Extremely effective as a run blitzer from the box. Darts through a gap and wraps up in the backfield. Strafes to a rushing lane as a middle safety and squares up to tackle on the second level. Very willing to get in position and stick his nose in tackling near the goal line. Extends to take on tight ends blocking in the slot. Aggressive taking on and getting off blocks on the perimeter. Fast and aggressive closing on the quarterback as a blitzer.

 

Weaknesses

Limited speed and sideline-to-sideline range in centerfield. Could be more prepared to go in either direction versus vertical concepts as a deep safety. Might be coaching but seems to run to a side at the snap rather than reading things out as a deep safety.  Has some stiffness flipping his hips in deep coverage. Slower reacting to routes in man coverage versus wide receivers. Beaten on three consecutive plays by Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in scoring territory with the third being a game-winning touchdown (2025). Can be evaded by quicker moves in pursuit towards the sideline. Could be better avoiding and getting off blocks from offensive linemen in the box.

 

NFL comparison

Antonio Johnson

 

Conclusion

Overall, Wheatley is an instinctive safety who is at his best playing things in front of him in coverage and coming up to tackle. He should benefit from increased usage as a middle safety and in the box based on the effectiveness in run support.

 

Big Board ranking: #85 | Positional ranking: #7