Trebor Pena transferring to PSU

[GoSU96]

I'm sorry, how am I not "trusting in Fran"? I'm all in on Fran and have said over and over how impressed I've been so far.

What I find odd is a lot of people trying to write off losing Pena as not a big loss and acting like we upgraded. Fran himself was not happy about Pena leaving.

Here are the facts:
1. Pena had over 1,000 rushing/receiving yards and 10 TDs last season, and was one of our most consistent players
2. Pena's "portal replacement", Johntay Cook had 8 catches for 137 yards (less than Ross/Ross-Simmons), transferred, and was immediately dismissed from Washington.
3. Ross & Ross-Simmons flashed as solid players in limited snaps
4. Our WR recruiting the last two years has been impressive on paper

I just don't think anyone can say we "upgraded" from Pena RIGHT NOW. If Johntay Cook was a 3 star transfer going to Texas people would be freaking out that we got weaker at the WR position.

Maybe once the season starts I'll be worrying for nothing.

I’m not worried, because the WR room was fine before Cook. I don’t get the need to trash Pena or denigrate his performance.

 

[GoSU96]

Prior to last season Peña’s best season was 22 catches for 203 yards that’s why. Fran got everyone hyped around what Pena could do prior to the year and with McCord and the right system they delivered. The fact is all things being equal Cook has a much higher ceiling, better high school pedigree with offer sheet to match and had two Texas receivers who are now pros talking about how good Cook can be in the right situation.

On Cooks commitment to Syracuse thread on X there were SMU fans literally saying they had hoped he wouldn’t end up on an ACC opponents roster because of how good he is. From a pure talent perspective he is an upgrade and if he takes advantage of this situation he will outperform Pena. Is that guaranteed? Of course not, in this case it’s up to Cook but for folks acting like Pena is a big loss and he can’t be replaced, it’s horsecrap.

Wow talk about a strawman.

 

[bnoro]

Prior to last season Peña’s best season was 22 catches for 203 yards that’s why. Fran got everyone hyped around what Pena could do prior to the year and with McCord and the right system they delivered. The fact is all things being equal Cook has a much higher ceiling, better high school pedigree with offer sheet to match and had two Texas receivers who are now pros talking about how good Cook can be in the right situation.

On Cooks commitment to Syracuse thread on X there were SMU fans literally saying they had hoped he wouldn’t end up on an ACC opponents roster because of how good he is. From a pure talent perspective he is an upgrade and if he takes advantage of this situation he will outperform Pena. Is that guaranteed? Of course not, in this case it’s up to Cook but for folks acting like Pena is a big loss and he can’t be replaced, it’s horsecrap.

Pena still had to get open (and stay healthy) last year. McCord helped but Pena took a huge step forward, and we're going to miss his ability to pick up first downs this season.

How many times did he convert a clutch 3rd down after the catch? Plenty. It wasn't just McCord. He's not irreplaceable, but you're telling me if you had the choice of Pena or Cook on the roster, you're going Cook?

High school pedigree means absolutely NOTHING once kids get to college. Come on. His teammates said he was good in the right situation, what if we aren't that?

 

[Cusefan69]

Some topics in this thread:

 

[anomander]

A once 5 star cast off is a definitive upgrade over an all-ACC player?

What’s the evidence for that, a HS highlight reel? A 40 time?

Please

As we stand today it’s just wishful thinking to believe Cook will be an upgrade or even an equal to Peña. In Terbor, he proved what he is capable of if healthy and a QB that can get him the ball. Cook has shown nothing at this point. I don’t believe he’s had any injuries, so the potential and upside are there, but i’m taking the proven guy every single time if i had a choice.

 

[wfschrec]

Pena still had to get open (and stay healthy) last year. McCord helped but Pena took a huge step forward, and we're going to miss his ability to pick up first downs this season.

How many times did he convert a clutch 3rd down after the catch? Plenty. It wasn't just McCord. He's not irreplaceable, but you're telling me if you had the choice of Pena or Cook on the roster, you're going Cook?

High school pedigree means absolutely NOTHING once kids get to college. Come on. His teammates said he was good in the right situation, what if we aren't that?

Read what I wrote from a pure talent perspective he is an upgrade and if he takes advantage of the situation he can outperform. I also said it wasn’t guaranteed but there is a reason Cook had a lot of offers from schools other than SU and Temple.

 

[Etown]

I think Pena was a great player that finally got a year without injuries. They had an article out during the season about how he was finally eating right, getting good sleep, etc. Stars on a player coming out of high school is not everything. The 1st pick in the draft was a 0 star coming out of high school. Cook has talent and potential to have a high ceiling. But I think his trajectory is dependent on where he focuses his time.

 

[jgeorge322]

Are people writing off Gill? I feel he has a super high ceiling.

 

[GoSU96]

As we stand today it’s just wishful thinking to believe Cook will be an upgrade or even an equal to Peña. In Terbor, he proved what he is capable of if healthy and a QB that can get him the ball. Cook has shown nothing at this point. I don’t believe he’s had any injuries, so the potential and upside are there, but i’m taking the proven guy every single time if i had a choice.

I have no problem with people saying Cook brings high-end traits and potential. That is undeniable. But making declarative statements about this being an upgrade is ridiculous.

If he’s day one better than the guys on the roster that would be great. There’s nothing he has done on the field that indicates that’s a lock.

 

[GoSU96]

Are people writing off Gill? I feel he has a super high ceiling.

Not if they’ve been paying attention.

 

[kcsu]

Pena is a loss. Period. The staff did an excellent job landing a kid with huge but unproven production.
I hope that Pena and Cook both have good years.
What Pena did last year and what Cook did is yesterday's news. They are both in completely new systems with teammates and coaches.
I personally think that they will both contribute and have solid seasons.
For Cook a great season for him is getting his life straight. For Pena it's building on last years achievements and hopefully getting a shot at the league.
Two very good players. Hope they both crush it

 

[BomberOrange]

Pena is a loss but before last year he was a role player. I am not convinced he cannot be replaced. We shall see. Hope he finds what he wants at ped st

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

You just blew my mind. This is going to mess with me all day today.

This will really blow your mind: Otto is Otto spelled backwards.

 

[sufan59]

You think he would be number 7 on this guys list if he was still at Syracuse. And I don’t necessarily disagree that Trebor belongs on this list. Just funny how national pundits hype up players in rankings based on their position on a preseason contender and not production/skill.

 

[sufandu]

Is he saying Ped St has the 7th best WR room or that Pena is the 7th best WR in the country? I love how he played for us last year, but there is no way he is the 7th best WR in the country. If he was, he'd be playing for NFL dollars next year not NIL.

 

[GoSU96]

Is he saying Ped St has the 7th best WR room or that Pena is the 7th best WR in the country? I love how he played for us last year, but there is no way he is the 7th best WR in the country. If he was, he'd be playing for NFL dollars next year not NIL.

What I think this is saying PSU now has the #7 WR unit and Pena is the top guy. They brought in 3 higher profile guys. It’s also the one unit weakness between them and being a NC favorite and they addressed it.

 

[hoopsupstate]

What I think this is saying PSU now has the #7 WR unit and Pena is the top guy. They brought in 3 higher profile guys. It’s also the one unit weakness between them and being a NC favorite and they addressed it.

The problem is they have a quarterback that’s not very accurate.

 

[orangenauburn]

What I think this is saying PSU now has the #7 WR unit and Pena is the top guy. They brought in 3 higher profile guys. It’s also the one unit weakness between them and being a NC favorite and they addressed it.

No. They have two auburn and two LSU guys.

They ranked the top wide receiver for this coming season (their opinion)

I agree with OP that if he was still at cuse he wouldnt be on the list

This list is probably a better representation of WR talent in 2025

CFB's best receivers for 2025: Who lines up after the clear No. 1?

It's no surprise that Jeremiah Smith tops our list, but after that, the voting was wide open.

www.espn.com

 

[GoSU96]

The problem is they have a quarterback that’s not very accurate.

Didn’t that Qb get them to the final four?

 

[hoopsupstate]

Didn’t that Qb get them to the final four?

Not because of their passing game.

 

[rrlbees]

No. They have two auburn and two LSU guys.

They ranked the top wide receiver for this coming season (their opinion)

I agree with OP that if he was still at cuse he wouldnt be on the list

This list is probably a better representation of WR talent in 2025

CFB's best receivers for 2025: Who lines up after the clear No. 1?

It's no surprise that Jeremiah Smith tops our list, but after that, the voting was wide open.

www.espn.com

Pena may not had been considered. That article was when he was in no man’s land and hadn’t selected a school yet.

 

[GoSU96]

Not because of their passing game.

And yet the made the final four

 

[SURules]

And yet the made the final four

Because of their line play and RB. They made zero passing completions against ND.

 

[shu 49]

Are people writing off Gill? I feel he has a super high ceiling.

I agree

 

[shu 49]

I hate how he left but the kid was good. won us a few games at theleast. Hate hegoes to ped st. hste them