Syracuse Football: Transfer LB A.J. Pena, who had stellar 2024 season, to visit 'Cuse

Rhode Island junior A.J. Pena, a talented linebacker who is in the transfer portal, will soon visit Syracuse football, according to a media report.

The 6-foot-2, 243-pound Pena, who has one season of collegiate eligibility left, has scheduled a visit to the Orange for December 16, according to a post on X from Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz, who are both national writers with 247Sports and CBS Sports.

Rhode Island competes in the Coastal Athletic Association ("CAA") at the Football Championship Subdivision ("FCS") level. The Rams had a terrific 2024 season, finishing at 11-3 overall and reaching the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Pena, too, was impressive as a junior at Rhode Island. Hummer noted that Pena was an FCS All-American. Pena also resided on the CAA's first team and was one of 35 finalists for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, which is doled out annually to the national defensive player of the year at the FCS level.

Syracuse football will get a visit from transfer linebacker A.J. Pena.

Per a post on his X page, in the 2024 season for Rhode Island, Pena says that he generated 82 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss, and 12.5 sacks. He also recovered two fumbles, had five quarterback hurries and registered two pass breakups.

When I wrote this article on Saturday, in its national transfer rankings, 247Sports placed Pena as three stars, No. 144 overall and No. 16 at the edge.

Pena was a member of the 2022 recruiting cycle and attended Somerville High School in Somerville, N.J. It's well-documented that New Jersey is a heavy recruiting focus for first-year head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff.

Brown and several of his assistants hail from the Garden State, and numerous 'Cuse players on the team's 2024 roster also come from New Jersey.

The transfer portal window opened for business on December 9 and will run through December 28. Just as every other program out there, Syracuse football will land pledges via the portal and also see current players transfer out.

In recent days, per reports and social media posts, various college transfers have either visited the Orange or plan to in the near future.

They include Liberty redshirt junior quarterback Kaidon Salter, LSU redshirt freshman quarterback Rickie Collins, Virginia sophomore quarterback Anthony Colandrea, Penn sophomore running back Malachi Hosley, Central Connecticut junior offensive tackle Rahtrel Perry and Cal Poly redshirt freshman offensive tackle Brady Norton.