The BSD staff recently voted for the top 10 Penn State players heading into 2025. The votes are dictated by how the players are expected to perform in the upcoming season, without factoring in long-term or NFL potential. Each member submitted a ballot with players ranked 1-10, with a first-place vote being 10 points, a second-place vote being nine points, and so on. We are technically doing a “top 11” as there was a tie for number 10 - so today we kick off with our “first” number 10 — wide receiver
Trebor Pena, who joined the team via transfer portal from Syracuse in the spring.
#10: WR Trebor Pena
HOW HE GOT HERE
Trebor Pena committed to Syracuse a a three-star prospect in 2019. The Orange were the only “power four” program to extend an offer to Pena, who chose the Orange over Temple, Army, Air Force, Kent State, and a slew of FCS offers.
Pena waited patiently throughout the first few seasons with the Orange, with just two career receptions and one carry heading into 2023. He found a role in the offense that season, catching 22 passes for 203 yards, but did not find the end zone.
Pena would enjoy a breakout season in 2024, catching passes from Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, who would go on to lead the nation in passing yards. Pena just missed the 1,000-yard mark, finishing with 84 catches for 941 yards and 10 total touchdowns. He had his best game in Syracuse’s biggest win of the season, a thrilling 42-38 victory over Miami that knocked the Hurricanes out of the playoffs. Pena finished with 139 yards from scrimmage, a season-high, to help lead the upset of Miami. He then capped off his breakout season with 108 yards and two scores against Washington State in a 52-35 Holiday Bowl victory.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025
Pena was the Nittany Lions most-celebrated addition from the transfer portal during an off-season that saw them pick up several key players who will hold an important role in 2025. It’s no surprise, as Pena brings an uber-productive option in the slot that Penn State has sorely been missing for far too long.
Pena is unlikely to match his prolific numbers from 2024 considering Penn State will not have quite a pass-heavy attack as Syracuse (Kyle McCord had a nation-leading 592 passing attempts in 2024, compared to 394 from Drew Allar). However, the Nittany Lions do not need him to put up gaudy numbers for the offense to succeed. Rather, they will lean on Pena as a savvy slot option who knows how to get open and keep defenses honest — not just key in on stopping the run and short passing game. Most importantly, Pena will need to quickly become someone that Allar can trust to make a play in key moments. He certainly has the experience and proven production to become one of Allar’s primary targets to lean on from the get-go.
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