It’s no secret: Penn State has long been trying to find another difference-maker at wide receiver via the transfer portal. James Franklin has addressed it, receivers coach Marques Hagans has addressed it and even athletic director Pat Kraft has said it. “We need a wide receiver,” Kraft blunty said in February.
Finally, Penn State has landed another big name — just before the start of Saturday’s Blue-White Game.
Former Syracuse wideout Trebor Pena is expected to transfer to the Nittany Lions, according to a report from 247Sports. He joins a Penn State transfer receiver class that already includes USC’s Kyron Hudson and Troy’s Devonte Ross. He’ll be a redshirt senior in 2025.
Pena made his commitment official shortly after the report.
Pena ranked as four-star prospect and the No. 27 transfer wide receiver nationally, according to 247Sports. He broke out in 2024, posting career-highs with 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns. The performance earned him second-team All-ACC honors.
At 6-foot and 184 pounds, Pena could bring another much-needed skill to the receiving corps with 475 yards after the catch last season, according to PFF. That number ranked 17th in the country, while Ross was 14th with 481. Harrison Wallace III led Penn State receivers in 2024 with 193.
Pena visited Penn State this past weekend, but plenty of other top schools went after his services. He reportedly had trips planned to USC, UCLA and Miami.
A New Jersey native, Pena also has shown some versatility outside of the passing game. He has returned kicks and punt, including a kick return touchdown in 2020. Offensively, Pena rushed 12 times for 72 yards and a touchdown last season.
It’s worth noting that Syracuse was the nation’s leader with 370 passing yards per game in 2024 and threw it 16 times more per game than it ran the ball on average. Still, Pena is a talented and productive player at a major FBS program — something Penn State has been looking for.
“We could always use help,” Hagans said this spring. “The objective is always to be the best in the country at every position. We’re working to become that. And until we become that, yes, we do need help at receiver. We just have to keep building the room the right way, bringing in the right guys, and when the opportunity presents itself, we’ve got to perform at a high level.
“I love the guys we have. But the ultimate thing is to constantly get better. That’s nothing that the guys in the room would shy away from or feel a certain way about hearing. That’s recruiting. My job is to bring in the best guys in the country and replace the guys that are here. Their job is to make sure it doesn’t happen. And if we build that year after year, we’ll have a room full of guys that will become elite and be the best group in the country.”
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