James Franklin went all-in during the spring portal window and now his former five-star quarterback is out of excuses and needs to deliver in his senior season.
Despite winning two College Football Playoff games last season, many still believe James “Big Game James” Franklin hasn’t cleared the program’s biggest hurdle. That makes the 2025 season a potential turning point for the veteran Penn State head coach. The recent addition of Syracuse transfer wide receiver Trebor Pena signals Franklin’s commitment to chasing a national championship—and raises expectations for his quarterback to lead the charge.
Following a gut-wrenching semifinal loss to Notre Dame in last year’s CFP, Franklin prioritized roster retention over rebuilding. He focused on keeping key players like quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, and defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant in Happy Valley—resisting the pull of the NFL Draft and transfer portal.
Still, after making a few low-key transfer additions over the winter and luring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State with a hefty contract, Franklin and Penn State’s boosters clearly weren’t done making moves.
Penn State adds the prize of the spring portal window
Penn State made a major statement during the spring transfer portal window by landing wide receiver Trebor Pena, the ACC’s receptions leader from last season. Pena hauled in 84 catches for 941 yards and nine touchdowns for Syracuse, showcasing his explosiveness out of the slot. At 6 feet tall and 184 pounds, the experienced playmaker quickly became one of the most coveted names in the portal.
Pena’s departure from Syracuse stemmed from an NIL dispute, suggesting that acquiring him came at a premium. Still, whatever price Franklin and Penn State paid is likely justified—Pena fills a critical need and could be the missing piece to elevate Drew Allar’s performance to a championship level.
Pena’s arrival will further unlock Drew Allar
Drew Allar made significant progress last season, but in the team’s biggest matchups, turnovers became a problem, and the passing attack leaned too heavily on tight end Tyler Warren. While Warren was a generational talent—becoming the first tight end since the 1970s to place in the top 10 of Heisman voting—his heavy usage was as much out of necessity as it was brilliance.
The truth is, Penn State lacked sufficient firepower at wide receiver. You could argue that Allar’s costly interceptions—one against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship and another against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl—stemmed from receivers who simply couldn’t win contested battles. In fact, Allar failed to complete a single pass to a wideout in the Orange Bowl, largely because none of them could create separation.
Following that loss, Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans both hit the transfer portal, but Penn State was already preparing for their departure. USC transfer Kyron Hudson and Troy transfer Devonte Ross arrived to bolster the position—Hudson brings size and physicality in contested catch scenarios, while Ross adds speed and a vertical threat. However, neither filled the void in the slot left behind by Warren’s departure, making it essential for Franklin to pursue a proven inside option like Trebor Pena.
Pena operated out of the slot on nearly 80% of his snaps last season, ranking 12th nationally and fifth among Power Four players with 63 receptions. While he’s occasionally battled drops—a common challenge for high-volume receivers—he generally has dependable hands. He hauled in 11 of 14 contested catch targets from the slot last season, proving he can be a reliable safety valve for Allar when it matters most
Two impressive catches by Trebor Pena on back-to-back plays. pic.twitter.com/4tIsxdhsTk
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) February 10, 2025
In certain aspects, Pena could serve as a replacement for Tyler Warren in jump-ball situations and screen plays. He averaged 8.5 yards per catch on passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage and racked up 12.4 yards after the catch per reception. He’s elusive in the open field, capable of making defenders miss, and while he may not possess elite breakaway speed, he’s more than fast enough to pull away when given space.
Pena hit the GAS 💨@CuseFootball extends the lead in the @holidaybowl pic.twitter.com/NnkAZQsrbD
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2024
For the past two seasons, Drew Allar has entered marquee matchups knowing his wide receivers would likely be outmatched, leading to hesitation in the pocket and costly errors downfield. With the arrival of Trebor Pena, that issue begins to fade. Now, with Hudson, Ross, Pena, and a deep tight end group, Allar finally has the weapons to stretch defenses and consistently attack all three levels of the field.
When James Franklin landed Allar in the 2022 recruiting cycle, many thought Penn State had found the missing piece to a national championship puzzle. But as the team’s once-reliable pipeline of NFL-caliber receivers dried up, the title dreams stalled. So the question became: Is Allar not living up to his five-star billing, or has he simply lacked the support needed to thrive?
Franklin made major changes to find out. He replaced offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich with Andy Kotelnicki last offseason and reshaped the receiver room this year. With Pena filling the final gap on offense, the stage is fully set. Now, Allar has everything he needs—and no more excuses. This season will reveal whether he’s truly one of the elite quarterbacks in college football, as both fans and NFL scouts eagerly watch.
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