Do the needs change after the Trebor Pena news?
Yesterday we told you about a couple of transfers visiting the Syracuse Orange, and then news came that Trebor Pena would be departing.
Pena’s departure means Syracuse will not have their projected #1 wide receiver and punt returner. That’s the bad news. The bit of good news is that the Orange might have some money now to add at other positions.
Spoke w/ a couple of SU sources and I can assure you that Trebor Pena was being well-compensated here from a NIL perspective & was not “underpaid.” No doubt that it’s frustrating for fans and losing him is a big loss. The portal does work both ways though & some $$ just freed up.
— Steve Infanti (@SteveInfantiNC9) April 15, 2025
Since the portal officially opens today, there might be more movement, but the Orange are clearly focused now on adding to the secondary and getting an experienced quarterback. We’ve had limited looks at Syracuse this spring, but with a daunting 2025 schedule ahead, it seems like those would still be the top priority.
At the spring game. Syracuse had a lot of first and second year players at corner. There’s a lot of upside and potential in the group, but if the Orange are going to keep playing the aggressive man-to-man defense on the outside they would benefit from grabbing another experienced player for that spot.
Staying on defense, the linebacker group features a lot of young players behind Derek McDonald and Anwar Sparrow, but are they ready to take on a bigger role? Are the combination of players in the group able to fill the production left by Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron? The defensive line has more bodies this season, but the run defense is going to need the backers to make plays. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Syracuse explore linebackers this spring.
Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images
On offense, I’d keep an eye on one specific spot outside of quarterback. With the departure of David Wohlabaugh, Syracuse could be looking for an experienced center. Right now, the Orange are trying Mark Petry and Codie Hornsby at that spot, but with a new quarterback it could be helpful to find someone who has handled snapping and calling protections.
As we mentioned earlier this week, Jackson Kennedy’s eligibility is in question and with the issues that Syracuse had in the kicking game last year, that’s a pretty big spot to have some uncertainty. If Kennedy is denied another year, the Orange will need to find another kicker to compete in August.
What spots do you think Syracuse will be looking for in the spring portal?