Syracuse Football: As Trebor Pena heads to portal, other receivers who must step up

Well, this one surprises me a bit.

Trebor Pena, a native of Ocean Township, N.J., and a standout wide receiver for Syracuse football in the 2024 season, is expected to enter the transfer portal, as first reported by top 247Sports analyst Mike McAllister and top national writer Matt Zenitz of 247Sports and CBS Sports.

Of course, I'm wishing Trebor nothing but tons of future success. That being said, what the heck? He barely played in 2023 due to an injury, the Orange staff stuck with him, and Pena was an All-ACC performer during the most recent campaign.

I have no idea as to the behind-the-scenes conversations between Pena and Syracuse football coaches, nor do I have intel regarding other factors such as name, image and likeness funds. So I won't speculate here, but I will adamantly say that when I saw this news on Tuesday, it floored me a tad.

The spring transfer portal window, by the way, will officially run from April 16 to April 25. Pena, who also is a talented return man, was named to the All-ACC second team in 2024 as a redshirt junior after hauling in 84 passes for 941 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. On Tuesday, he was listed as a four-star transfer prospect on the 247Sports Web site.

Other Syracuse football wide receivers will see increased playing time.

I'll be curious to see if the Orange coaching staff goes after any transfer wide receivers following Pena's anticipated departure from the Hill. In 2024, the 'Cuse led the country in total passing yards, and Pena was the program's leading receiver looking ahead to the 2025 term.

Here are five Syracuse football receivers to keep an eye on as we approach the upcoming campaign:

Darrell Gill Jr., rising junior
2024 statistics: 31 catches for 570 yards and two touchdowns

Umari Hatcher, rising redshirt senior
2024 statistics: 17 catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns

Justus Ross-Simmons, rising senior
2024 statistics: nine catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns

Emanuel Ross, rising redshirt freshman
2024 statistics: five catches for 78 yards

Jaylan Hornsby, rising redshirt freshman
2024 statistics: two catches for 21 yards

Within its 2025 recruiting class, both via the transfer portal and at the high school level, the Orange has numerous wide receivers. They include four-star Demetres Samuel Jr., a true freshman who also plays defensive back, three-star Darius Johnson, a true freshman, and rising redshirt sophomore Tyshawn Russell, a three-star transfer from South Carolina.

I discussed some of these 'Cuse wide receivers in a column on the Syracuse football annual spring game, which was held this past Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Do I think that losing Pena to the portal is a blow to the Orange's wide receivers room in 2025? Yes. Do I think that the 'Cuse can fill the void left by Pena leaving Central New York in the upcoming season? Absolutely.