Tommy Rees Checks on 2021 ATH Zakee Wheatley

Archbishop Spaulding (Md.) hosted Notre Dame last week as offensive coordinator Tommy Rees visited the school and then took in a basketball game. 

Rees was in town to check on 2021 athlete Zakee Wheatley‍, who already holds offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Wisconsin. 

"They've been sending me mail and talking to me for a minute," Wheatley stated. "They have invited me up to camp and they came to the school last week. They also came to one of my basketball games last week too." 

For Rees to take time to stop by the school was impressive, but to watch his basketball game meant a little bit more. However, Wheatley is staying grounded until  the Irish offer.

"It means a lot," said Wheatley. "I know they're interested. I'm interested in Notre Dame. It's a great school and who wouldn't be? 

"If they do offer, I'll visit them and really start looking at them because they'll be an option." 

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder will have a decision to make before he makes his commitment. 

Wheatley is being recruited as a receiver, athlete and defensive back, so he'll have to decide on a position, which could be tough. 

"At the beginning of my recruiting process, it was more receiver because I had more film of it my sophomore," explained Wheatley. "After my junior year, it became athlete and now it's become more defensive back. 

"It still switches up. Vanderbilt offered me and mentioned it could change because I'm an athlete, but as of now, it's an offer at receiver." 

The good news for Wheatley is he enjoys playing both sides of the ball, so the Maryland native will be happy either way.

"I have no preference," Wheatley said. "I've been playing receiver since I was catching a ball at four-years-old. I started playing defensive back in middle school.  I'm learning and getting better at both. 

"I love both." 

Wheatley doesn't feel one school is recruiting him harder than the others, but Rutgers is a school that has started to ramp things up with him and other prospects on the recruiting trail. 

Greg Schiano is back and Wheatley has felt the new energy back in the program. 

"I think with Coach Schiano being a great coach and being there before, he has a great staff around him," stated Wheatley. "They're all real. I can feel the energy." 

The Spalding star is in the process of setting up visits and if the Irish offer, it's a safe bet he'll be in South Bend at some point.

"I've taken visits to Penn State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt - I can keep going," said Wheatley. "There have been so many. 

"As of now, I'll be at West Virginia this Saturday and we're setting up other visits right now."