Penn State transfer receiver named a top newcomer for 2025

Penn State football swung for the fences this offseason, acquiring a plethora of high-end transfer portal talent to help fill the gaps in what is widely considered a championship-caliber roster. Now as we head into summer, one Nittany Lion newcomer is being included among the top additions in the country.

Over the weekend, ESPN’s Billy Tucker highlighted the notable newcomers for each team in the site’s recently released post-spring top 25 rankings. To be considered, players could either be entering college from the high school ranks or new additions to their program from the transfer portal.

Incoming transfer wide receiver Trebor Pena held a prominent place in the discussion, labeled as the top newcomer for Penn State, who took the No. 1 ranking in ESPN’s post-spring top 25.

“Look for Pena to become [Drew] Allar’s consistent underneath check-down target, particularly on key third-down conversions,” Tucker wrote. “Pena is versatile, reliable, and slippery in tight quarters. Even if he doesn’t match his 84-catch pace at Penn State, which doesn’t pass nearly as often as Syracuse does, he should still replace some of the production and versatility void left behind by [Tyler] Warren.

“The sixth-year senior should catch on fast in Happy Valley despite missing spring practice. He’ll be the reliable slot who dominates zone coverage with savvy route running and sudden breaks to create separation. Don’t underestimate his quick impact in the return game as well.”

Pena joined the Nittany Lions on April 26 after a breakout season with the Orange. The second-ranked receiver in the spring transfer portal window, he led the ACC with 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.

Penn State football leveraging portal to create competition in wide receiver room

Penn State football wide receiver Tyseer Denmark. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

The third portal addition at the position for Penn State this offseason, Pena will complement the talents of Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross. The trio of newcomers will look to push a wide receiver room that has lacked production over the last two seasons.

“I was pleased with what we did this spring in the passing game,” James Franklin said following the Blue-White Game. “I was pleased with the wide receivers. Not only the receivers that have been on our roster and their development. I think you guys saw Tyseer [Denmark] make some plays today, which was great, too. But then, obviously, you guys really got your first look at Hudson and Ross. And both of those guys, we think, have very, very bright futures.

“But we’re going to need competition throughout the entire room… We’re just trying to create as much competition at every position as we possibly can. That is the nature of this level of college football. We embrace it as coaches. The players embrace it as well. And I think we put ourselves in a position to have more competition in that room, which is what we need.”

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