Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534903
M A Y 2 0 2 5 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M "He's looking around now, he's like three years older than all these kids, and he's got to be the leader. I'm watching him take kids under his wing. That's the role that he's been thrust into … and it's been great to watch him grow in that area. He's growing every day. "He'll get more comfortable with it. I think it was a little shock when he first stepped in that room [and realized], 'I'm the guy, and they're all looking at me.' Well, yeah, bro. You're the oldest one. You've played the most football." Wheatley's determination to help his teammates has not mitigated his desire to make improvements in his own game this offseason. Last season, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten notice after play- ing 884 defensive snaps, the most of his career and the second-most on Penn State's defense. Since then, he's been working to pair his knowledge and in- stincts for the game with improved athleticism. He's been spending extra time with conditioning coach Chuck Losey and the training staff to improve his speed, strength and "the little things that make a huge difference in the game." Coming off last year's remarkable postseason performance, Wheatley has a clear idea of what he wants to accom- plish in 2025. "I know what happened in those games, and I know how I approached those games, and I know I can approach every game like that and make impact plays on every single play of the game," he said. "It wasn't really 'Was I ready for the NFL?' I just felt like I had more on my plate here. "In the playoff, I had a good last cou- ple of games. I had a good season. But I just feel like after those games, I had a lot more to display, and I knew what I needed to do this offseason to make that an every-game thing. That's what I'm doing right now." ■ Wheatley finished with 96 total tackles last season, ranking third on Penn State's defense. He tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS "In the playoff, I had a good last couple of games. I had a good season. But I just feel like after those games, I had a lot more to display, and I knew what I needed to do this offseason to make that an every-game thing. That's what I'm doing right now." W H E A T L E Y