Penn State Top 25 Players for 2025, WR Trebor Pena

USA Today

12-07-2025

While it certainly can be said that the Penn State Nittany Lions made a breakthrough last season, that does not mean that they weren't devoid of any problems. After all, despite their success, fans, pundits, and analysts alike still pointed out the glaringly obvious. Despite an improved Drew Allar and one of, if not the best RB tandems in the nation, one position group offensively stood out as a major concern for the future of Penn State: the wide receivers.
The wide receivers were so inefficient in fact, that the leading receiver was tight end Tyler Warren, who was often Penn State's get-out-of-jail-free card in the passing game. After his departure to the NFL, Penn State realized they needed to change at the position, grow deeper. And fast.
In an active offseason, the Nittany Lions aggressively dipped into the transfer portal, picking up three wide receivers to help bolster their squad: Kyron Hudson of USC, Devonte Ross of Troy and most intriguingly, Trebor Pena of Syracuse. Tasked with energizing a moribund receiving corps, this group holds the weight of Penn State's future squarely on their shoulders. They must perform or else there will be uproar in Happy Valley and perhaps an onsetting frustration within the team should they disappoint.
Nittany Lions Wire is taking a deeper look at the top 25 players on the 2025 roster, and for today, we will be discussing one of these receivers and perhaps the most promising of the group: Trebor Pena.
2024 in Review
Throughout his five years with the Syracuse Orange, Trebor Pena thrived in a pass-rich system that saw him get the ball countless times and create for his team. 2024 was a prime example of his skill and production. He had an ACC-high 84 catches for 941 yards and 10 touchdowns, ranking 13th nationally in catches. This season was super vital to his development as well, seeing as to how he missed the last two seasons due to lingering injury issues.
At Penn State, he offers so much invaluable assets outside of his game that must be on display as soon as he steps foot in Beaver Stadium for the season opener. As a sixth-year guy, he is someone who teammates can look up to but most importantly aspire to be. If he immediately proves that Penn State's investment is him is right, then surely teammates will follow, especially should he be Allar's go-to target in this new-look offense. The only question is how productive he can be and how high he will leap for this team with clear championship aspirations.
Biggest Question in 2025
There are many questions surrounding Pena in this Penn State offense. However, the most important one could be his rapport with Drew Allar. While Allar now has a solid array of offensive weapons around him, he is sure to look to Pena as his No. 1 option. Hudson and Ross are by no means bad athletes, but it is Pena who was the marquee addition and he and Allar have to perform and develop with each other as such.
Another relationship that could prove to be important is between both Pena and OC Andy Kotelnicki. Kotelnicki loves having a guy like Pena on his roster because of his versatility. Pena's speed and ability in the open field are undeniable, and I can't imagine Andy Kotelnicki will not take advantage of these traits. Not only could Pena be the No. 1 option, but much like Tyler Warren last year, he could potentially align wherever Kotelnicki sees fit. Whether it be in the backfield, the slot, outside, or amybe even throwing the football, look for Kotelnicki to be extra tricky with a new weapon unlike any Penn State has had in their offense in recent memory.
2025 will be a success if.. .
The answer is quite simple. Trebor Pena must be the guy Penn State believes he is and most importantly, establish himself as a vocal leader who will do whatever it takes to win a championship. Pena does not have the benefit of ingratiating himself with Penn State fans for the past three to four years. Every plaudit and accolade must be earned. Anything less and the pain of a failed season will sting even more for the Syracuse transfer.
For the past six years of his college career, Pena has plied his trade for a Syracuse team that would never dream of CFP aspirations, let alone making even a first-round appearance. However, expectations are different in Happy Valley. They now know what they can achieve and so do the players who have been through it all throughout their Penn State careers. Allar knows. Singleton. Allen knows. The big question, despite his experience and versatility, is Does Pena know to? The answer to that question could end up being Penn State's season in a nutshell.
2025 will be a disappointment if...
Pena fails to break out as the No. 1 option and does not even exceed 1,000 receiving yards. Furthermore, Penn State not even making the CFP, while not feeling like a possibility this late in the offseason, would be a massive failure to both himself and the team. To put into perspective the receiving woes that the Nittany Lions experienced last year, six receivers combined caught fewer passes(102) than Tyler Warren. That simply cannot be the case for the headliner of their transfer portal class.
Pena is certainly capable of being a 1,000 yard receiver. He proved it as much last season, only 59 yards off the mark. Now in a much more pressurized environment, with loftier standards, and more importantly, less margin for error, Pena will have no excuses for any disappointing efforts he puts forth. This receiving corps has been too ineffective for it to continually let down the team over and over again. Pena can't just be another failed project. And he only has one season to do it, unlike others on the squad. The pressure is on..and Pena cannot crack.
Realistic Outlook for 2025
I do not expect anyone else to have a bigger role in the receiving room for the Nittany Lions than Trebor Pena. With all this intangibles he brings to the table, Franklin, Kotelnicki and company will want to unleash his qualities as quickly as possible within their scheme. Ultimately however, the bottom line is Pena himself. Can he handle the pressure, the tension that comes with being a go-to guy for a true blue-blood program? As he will quickly learn, Penn State is Syracuse.
There are two ways you could look at Pena as a Penn State in terms of expectations and subsequent performance: Either he is everything you want and more or he means nothing to either the success or failure of their season. Either one has its perks and its caveats. But nothing right now in the offseason feels either concrete or satisfactory. There is a chance Pena isn't successful but the Nittany Lions are. There is also a chance Pena is an immediate star and Penn State falters in their push for a championship. When all avenues are open, you can never be truly certain about a player like Pena.