A breakdown of the remaining options on the table for coach Brown.
The Syracuse Orange football team will have a new wrinkle to sort out during the offseason following the recent departure of one of its most productive playmakers.
Veteran wide receiver and returner Trebor Pena is reportedly entering the transfer portal after a breakout campaign in 2024. Pena is coming off a career year after leading the Orange in receptions (84) and touchdowns (nine) while racking up almost 1,000 receiving yards. The stats don’t even tell the whole story — Pena finished this past season with the fifth-most catches in a single season and 10th-most receiving yards in a single season in program history.
Going forward, Syracuse will now need to replace his skills for both the offensive and special teams units.
The current remaining options left on the table for coach Fran Brown are intriguing, but largely unproven options, either because of their role being limited before or general lack pf experience.
Some familiar names that are returning include the trio of Darrell Gill Jr., Justus Ross-Simmons and Umari Hatcher.
Gill had a career year of his own in 2024 with 31 catches for 570 yards and two TDs. He also saw some limited action as a returner on kickoffs. Ross-Simmons started off his 2024 campaign slow due to injury, but he played in five of Syracuse’s last six games and ended with nine catches for 202 yards and two TDs. Hatcher will be back with the Orange for his fourth season. He finished this past year with 17 catches for 273 yards and three TDs. Hatcher had 32 catches for over 450 yards and three TDs the season prior.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Each of those players should be seeing more playing time, and at least some more opportunities to make plays, with Pena now off to the portal. The broader question that fits for all three is can any of Gill, Ross-Simmons and Hatcher become a go-to target in Syracuse’s passing game.
Replacing Pena and what he could’ve brought to the Orange in 2025 alone is already difficult enough for coach Brown. However, the broader challenge is now elevating the current options on the table who have largely played in a supporting role up to the next level.
The value to having Pena was giving Syracuse go-to, no question’s asked number-one option to build the passing game around. Around Pena, any of the returning veterans could’ve been positioned well to do just enough as the second- or third-option.
There is clear depth overall with the current receiving group, but the upside and ability to make those big-time plays that powered the Orange’s elite offense in 2024 is way more of an unknown. That’s especially considering Syracuse also lost Jackson Meeks and Oronde Gadsden II during the offseason. With Pena out of the picture, it’s glaring hole that just got bigger.
The remaining receivers on the depth chart have largely not played in their collegiate careers. Receivers with Syracuse this spring include:
- Tyshawn Russell — transfer from South Carolina, five catches for 81 yards and one TD in 10 games, redshirted in 2024
- Emanuel Ross — five catches for 78 yards in four games, four-star recruit per 247Sports. Won DART award for the offense for Spring practice
- Jaylan Hornsby — two catches for 21 yards in four games, three-star recruit per 247Sports
- Ta’Ron Haile — appeared in four games, three-star recruit per 247Sports
- Ja’Meer Thomas — appeared in two games, three-star recruit per 247Sports
- Demetres Samuel, Jr- four-star recruit, seeing time at corner and receiver
- Darius Johnson — three-star recruit per 247Sports
Russell has played the most of anyone remaining on the depth chart and figures to have some sort of role carved out among the receivers. Ross brings plenty of promise as the highest-ranked recruit on the board.
The Orange have a few more wide receivers joining this summer and we know Fran Brown isn’t afraid to use young players if they can contribute. The group of Darien Williams, Gabe Daniels and Julian McFadden might be behind in terms of the playbook, but they’ll have an opportunity to add depth to the position.
As for who replaces Pena on punt returns, it’s an open contest but Johnson was getting a lot of reps in spring practice. We could also see Davien Kerr who had one return for 46 yards last Fall. It’s something to watch this August when camp begins.
Heading into 2025, Syracuse faced a tough challenge navigating a lot of change coming to the offense. Losing Pena adds another hurdle the coaching staff will need to sort out, whether by evaluating and finding potential among the current depth chart or eyeing some possible targets during the spring transfer portal cycle.