Syracuse, N.Y. — Once projected to be the face of the Syracuse football program next season, wide receiver Trebor Pena play for a historic rival instead.
Pena committed to play football next season at Penn State, a program that advanced to the College Football Playoffs last season. He announced his commitment on Instagram.
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said that Pena decided to leave the Orange amid concerns about how much he was being paid and how prepared quarterback Rickie Collins was to succeed immediately as a first-time starter.
While discussing Pena, Brown mentioned wide receivers who were asking for $2 million. He indicated that Syracuse did not want to meet Pena’s asking price and he did not like Pena’s questioning of the Orange’s quarterback situation.
Syracuse did add competition to its quarterback room after Pena entered his name into the transfer portal, bringing in Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli, who is expected to compete for the starting job.
At Penn State, Pena will catch passes from Drew Allar, who is viewed as a high-level NFL prospect at quarterback.
The Nittany Lions went 13-3 last season and lost in the CFP semifinals.
Penn State made a deep run despite appearing to have a deficiency at wide receiver, with just one wideout making more than 18 receptions. Penn State’s pass game relied heavily on first-round NFL Draft pick Tyler Warren, a tight end.
Pena is one of three wide receivers Penn State brought in via transfer, joining USC’s Kyron Hudson and Troy’s Devonte Ross.
He was ranked by On3.com as the No. 106 player to transfer since the end of last year and the 21st wide receiver.
Pena thrived last season with Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord last season, delivering a break-through performance in his fifth season of college football and leading the Orange in receptions (84) and receiving yards (941).
Syracuse’s rivalry with Penn State hasn’t been particularly intense in recent years but the schools are among the few prominent programs in the Northeast, leading to routine recruiting battles. The schools have played 71 times historically, more recently in 2013.
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