Former Syracuse football wide receiver Trebor Pena, an All-ACC performer during the 2024 season, revealed his new collegiate home on Saturday, and it's a squad quite familiar to the Orange.
The 6-foot,184-pound Pena, who hails from Ocean Township, N.J., entered the transfer portal during the recent spring transfer portal window, which closed on April 25. That development surprised many 'Cuse fans, myself included.
Now Pena is on his way to Penn State and the Big Ten Conference, he said on Instagram. I'm wishing Trebor nothing but success in his redshirt senior stanza with the Nittany Lions!
Former Syracuse star wide receiver Trebor Pena is expected to transfer to Penn State, sources tell @BrianDohn247 and me for @CBSSports/@247Sports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) April 26, 2025
Had 84 catches last year and was an All-ACC selection. Was one of the top players in the transfer portal.https://t.co/SxZefztulN pic.twitter.com/SlrWKbJE51
In the wake of Trebor's decision to depart the Hill, Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown discussed Pena in a recent interview with ESPN Radio Syracuse. To put it simply, Pena wanted more in name, image and likeness funds than Brown was willing to pay, and Pena also reportedly had some concerns about the Orange's quarterback room ahead of the 2025 term.
Fran Brown on Trebor Pena's decision to enter the transfer portal:
— Cuse Sports Talk (@CuseSportsTalk_) April 16, 2025
"First off I love the kid.... We paid him enough, he was going to get paid more... There was some numbers that was asked of me that I didn't think we'd be able to do."
While losing Pena stings, I still believe that the 'Cuse has a talented group of wide receivers, and tight ends, for its upcoming campaign.
Former Syracuse football wide receiver Trebor Pena has committed to Penn State.
Now, I do not have inside information as to what Pena will earn while suiting up for the Nittany Lions in 2025. That being said, I'm sure it's a sizable amount, as Penn State is one of the giants in the sport of college football. I'm assuming the Nittany Lions' NIL budget for football is among the largest around the country.
A term ago, Penn State went 13-3 overall, reached the semifinals of the 12-team College Football Playoffs, and finished No. 5 around the country in the final Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls.
In 2024, the Orange under first-year head coach Brown went 10-3, won its bowl game and was No. 20 in the final AP top-25 poll. Pena resided on the All-ACC second team after catching 84 passes for 941 yards and nine touchdowns.
When I wrote this column on Saturday, in national transfer rankings from several recruiting services, Pena was in the top 150 nationally and the top 30 at wide receiver.
In the 'Cuse program's history, Penn State is one of its most-played opponents. Per SU Athletics, in their all-time series together, Syracuse football is 23-43-5 against the Nittany Lions, although they haven't battled each other since 2013.
Former Washington and Texas WR Johntay Cook tells @247Sports he will visit Arkansas tomorrow. Cook recently visited Syracuse and has been hearing from multiple P4 programs.
— Mike Roach (@MikeRoach247) April 24, 2025
Amid the spring transfer portal window, the Orange staff has welcomed a couple of transfer wide receivers to the Hill on visits. They include Central Arkansas senior Trejan Bridges, Florida State sophomore Hykeem Williams and Texas sophomore Johntay Cook II.