Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Pena (2) breaks away from Washington State defensive back Tyson Durant (5) as he scores a touchdown during the second half of the Holiday Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Penn State has struck transfer portal gold at a major position of need.

Trebor Pena, who led Syracuse with 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns en route to a second-team All-ACC selection last season, has committed to the Nittany Lions, On3’s Hayes Fawcett first reported on Saturday and Pena confirmed a short time later. He has one season of eligibility remaining. 

The 6-foot, 185-pound Pena joins a revamped Penn State receiving corps that includes two other transfers in former Troy standout Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson, formerly of USC. The trio should provide quarterback Drew Allar with his most dynamic arsenal of pass catchers since he became the program’s starter two seasons ago.

Pena had been one of the hottest names in the transfer portal since he entered it last week. He began his brief recruitment by visiting Penn State before it was reported that he would also entertain interest from Miami (FL), USC and UCLA. For a team in dire need of help at receiver, this is a significant win for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State lost each of its top two wide receivers from a season ago, Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans to the transfer portal. Meanwhile, the departure of overall leading receiver, tight end Tyler Warren, didn’t make matters any easier in crafting a viable supporting cast for Allar to throw to.

Pena should become Allar’s top target almost immediately, like he was for Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord last year. The duo of Pena and McCord helped turn a program that went 6-7 in 2023 to 10-3 with a No. 21 ranking in the final AP Top 25 poll in the first year under head coach Fran Brown.

He’ll be tasked with helping another team take a jump, as the Nittany Lions look to turn a College Football Semifinal appearance in January into a full blown national title run next fall.

With Pena, Ross and Hudson, as well as young and blossoming receivers such as Tyseer Denmark and Koby Howard, Penn State’s pass catching corps could begin to turn some heads early into the year.