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Zakee Wheatley was a three-sport athlete most of his life. He played basketball, baseball and football until his sophomore year of high school, when he put his baseball glove away for good. Next came the basketball shoes after he graduated high school - although he still plays from time to time for fun with teammates. That leaves just football for Wheatley. "It was hard (to drop basketball)," he said. "But I knew what I needed to do. I knew what I wanted. I knew football was the sport for me. Football was always my first, my real love." For the first time as a high-level athlete he's focused primarily on one sport. And now the Nittany Lion defensive back is primed to take a massive step forward in his second year with Penn State football.

Wheatley spent his first year on campus as a cornerback, where he used his 6-foot-2 frame and athletic talent to stay with wide receivers in practice. Eventually the Penn State staff determined that his abilities would be best used in a more central location and moved him to safety this offseason. The news stung teammate - and classmate - Kalen King, who broke out as a corner last season. "At corner I knew he was gonna be good," King said with a smile. "I was mad when they switched him to safety because I wanted him to stay at corner so we could be on the field at the same time. The coaches wanted better for him and he made the most of his opportunity when he switched to safety. He's a ball hawk." - Centre Times

(DS#4 FS) rSr/2026

FS Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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05/24/22 - *Joey Porter Jr., Jr/2023, Penn State, 6-3, 198 (DS#3 CB) + More +

2022 LOTT IMPACT TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: JOEY PORTER Jr., CB, Penn State, Jr., 6-2, 196, Bakersfield; All-Big Ten 3rd team; 51 tackles, Father Joey Sr. was a 13-year NFL vet and former coach. - Lott IMPACT Trophy/The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation

(DS#3 CB) Jr/2023

CB *Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
News Source: Lott IMPACT Trophy
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05/21/22 - Chop Robinson, Jr/2024, Penn State, 6-3, 254 (DS#3 DE) + More +

The team's top pass rusher is gone with Ebiketie heading to the NFL and the Nittany Lions did well to replace some of the 9.5 sacks he had last season. Robinson is young and talented off the edge with the upside to be a high-level player for Penn State, while Dennis-Sutton has as much potential as any player in the program. Combine their arrivals with the return of Isaac, who tore his achilles and missed the 2021 season, and Penn State should be even better at defensive end this season. - Centre Times

(DS#3 DE) Jr/2024

DE Chop Robinson, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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05/16/22 - Hunter Nourzad, rSr/2024, Penn State, 6-3, 317 (DS#8 C) + More +

Penn State football has announced the addition of offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad. Nourzad comes to Penn State after spending the last four years at Cornell University. Nourzad finished career at Cornell starting 20 consecutive games at right tackle. In 2021 he earned second-team All-America honors from the AFCA...Picked up third-team All-America laurels from Phil Steele...Named Phil Steele's Ivy League Offensive Lineman of the Year...Was a first-team All-Ivy League selection...Earned Academic All-Ivy League Honors…Was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy...Named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society. - Penn State Football

(DS#8 C) rSr/2024

C Hunter Nourzad, Penn State
News Source: Penn State Football
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05/10/22 - Adisa Isaac, rSr/2024, Penn State, 6-4, 247 (DS#5 DE) + More +

Poised for a 2022 standout season: DE Adisa Isaac, junior. A torn Achilles tendon last summer sidelined Isaac the entire season. Now he's in line to take over Arnold Ebiketie's spot and bookend with Nick Tarburton. Two years ago, Isaac had 13 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in spot duty. - AP College Football

(DS#5 DE) rSr/2024

DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
News Source: AP College Football
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05/05/22 - Adisa Isaac, rSr/2024, Penn State, 6-4, 247 (DS#5 DE) + More +

Few players can help themselves this fall more than Adisa Isaac. He's the type of pass rusher NFL teams are willing to overdraft. His size and athleticism are top notch but he hasn't been on the field for over a year after tearing his Achilles last offseason. Isaac can prove he's worthy of the 2023 NFL Draft if his production can match his tools in his first year as a starter. - Tribune Review

(DS#5 DE) rSr/2024

DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/05/22 - *Joey Porter Jr., Jr/2023, Penn State, 6-3, 198 (DS#3 CB) + More +

Early 2023 first round mock drafts have begun to roll in and this is the name that constantly comes up. Penn State's Porter is the ideal size for an NFL cornerback and has the athleticism to hang with the best receivers in football. His next major test will be proving he can cover consistently without committing penalties. Doing that should put him firmly in the first round of next year's draft. - Tribune Review

(DS#3 CB) Jr/2023

CB *Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/05/22 - Curtis Jacobs, rJr/2024, Penn State, 6-1, 241 (DS#10 OLB) + More +

Jacobs is the best linebacker at Penn State and should be in position to get drafted if he chooses to leave early next year. That being said, he still has steps to take to get there. Jacobs flies all over the field and is one of the best athletes the Nittany Lions have. He uses that to make plays in both the run and passing game, relying on his instincts to make plays. He just has to combine his high-level play with more experience and refinement and he should see his name rise up draft boards. - Tribune Review

(DS#10 OLB) rJr/2024

OLB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/05/22 - Sean Clifford, rSr/2023, Penn State, 6-2, 218 (DS#20 QB) + More +

QB Sean Clifford is heading into his sixth season at Penn State and fourth as the starter. He's had an up-and-down career, but it's possible an NFL team will take a chance on him because of his work ethic and experience. While he could go in the late rounds, his age should push him to being an undrafted free agent. - Tribune Review

(DS#20 QB) rSr/2023

QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/05/22 - JiAyir Brown, rSr/2023, Penn State, 5-11, 203 (DS#4 SS) + More +

Ji'Ayir Brown is one of the top potential prospects for Penn State next season. He chose to return for an extra year of eligibility when he would've been one of the top safeties drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. He's excellent playing the deep third of the field in coverage, leading the nation in interceptions with six, but can also play man against slot receivers. Brown is one of the most well-rounded safety prospects in the country heading into the 2022 season. - Tribune Review

(DS#4 SS) rSr/2023

SS JiAyir Brown, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/05/22 - PJ Mustipher, rSr/2023, Penn State, 6-4, 320 (DS#28 DT) + More +

Mustipher had a chance to leave early after the 2021 season but an injury ended his season early and he decided to return for the 2022 season. The veteran defensive tackle is a good athlete who uses his size to occupy space in the running game while showing some upside as a pass rusher. He uses his hands well - thanks in part to his wrestling background - and has shown he can have a role in the NFL. - Tribune Review

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2023

DT PJ Mustipher, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/04/22 - Curtis Jacobs, rJr/2024, Penn State, 6-1, 241 (DS#10 OLB) + More +

Penn State's linebacker group is replacing 2021 starters Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks. Returning starter Curtis Jacobs, who is expected to move from the weak side to the strong side, has a chance to be one of the Big Ten's best. But the Lions still haven't settled on a starter in the middle. The competition is between Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King, the twin brother of Penn State corner Kalen King. "I think the other question is linebacker," Franklin said. "We lost some horsepower at the linebacker position. I think we got a pretty good idea who the two outside linebackers are, and we had great competition as 'Mike' (middle) linebacker between Elsdon and Kobe. We're a little bit further ahead than we thought." - Tribune Review

(DS#10 OLB) rJr/2024

OLB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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05/04/22 - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, rJr/2024, Penn State, 6-6, 312 (DS#3 OT) + More +

Penn State right tackle Caedan Wallace and center Juice Scruggs are returning starters, with Scruggs moving over from right guard. The coaching staff has also been pleased with new left tackle Olu Fashanu, Rasheed Walker's replacement. The Lions must find two starting guards and that will be a priority in August. - Tribune Review

(DS#3 OT) rJr/2024

OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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04/24/22 - Zakee Wheatley, rSr/2026, Penn State, 6-2, 198 (DS#4 FS) + More +

Penn State's defense has undergone a shift for the first time in eight seasons after former defensive coordinator Brent Pry left for Virginia Tech. New coordinator Manny Diaz has implemented his own scheme - one that has led players and coaches to laud its aggressiveness. One player in particular has taken advantage of that aggression while making a change of his own. Redshirt freshman Zakee Wheatley moved from cornerback to safety and in the process has earned himself the title of turnover king thus far through spring practice. Wheatley has five interceptions, according to senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown, and is one of the players who has stood out the most alongside him. "Right now, our takeaway king, Zakee Wheatley, he's been doing an unbelievable job with the transfer from corner to safety," Brown said. "He's made plays that veteran guys struggle to make. He's standing out the most to me right now." Wheatley is one of multiple players positioned to fight for the starting safety spot alongside Brown.

He, Keaton Ellis and Jaylen Reed are all looking to make their mark and replace Jaquan Brisker, who ran out of eligibility and is expected to go in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. While Wheatley has the least experience at safety, Brown said his instincts have put him in a position to succeed despite the position switch this offseason. "His instincts, I like to say he reminds me a lot of myself," he said. "Very instinctive player. The most important piece, he plays with passion. He goes out there and he plays hard and he lets his instincts just flow. And I think that causes him to run into a lot of plays and make a lot of plays for us. That's why he's been great so far." - Centre Times

(DS#4 FS) rSr/2026

FS Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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04/21/22 - Sean Clifford, rSr/2023, Penn State, 6-2, 218 (DS#20 QB) + More +

Sean Clifford's revolving door of offensive coordinators at Penn State has been well-documented. In his first three years as a starting quarterback, he had three different voices in his ear, from Ricky Rahne in 2019 to Kirk Ciarrocca in 2020 to Mike Yurcich in 2021. This spring, though, Penn State finally has continuity at its offensive coordinator spot. Yurcich is back for his second season in the position after a first year that featured a promising start and a disappointing finish.

The Nittany Lions believe that the benefits of spending a second year in the system will carry over to this fall. "Just being able to be in the same terminology, be in the same offense, be able to operate at a high level, it's just easier to make all the calls," Clifford said. "Just kind of opening up the playbook for me. I've always had to re-learn an offense or learn a new one, and now being able to be in the same one back-to-back years just makes my job a lot easier and really be able to master the offense in the spring instead of learn it in the spring and go into the fall." There will be plenty of eyes on Clifford this spring and summer as the sixth-year senior is back for his fourth year as Penn State's starting quarterback. Besides Clifford, who turns 24 in July, the room is young, with redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux and freshmen Drew Allar and Beau Pribula going through spring practice. - Tribune Review

(DS#20 QB) rSr/2023

QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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