Spring transfers Trebor Pena and Amare Campbell share why they picked Penn State, first impressions of the Lions' camp

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State picked up a pair of transfers in April who had options to go elsewhere, but instead landed on the Nittany Lions as the next team they would play for. Trebor Pena was an All-ACC second-team receiver at Syracuse. Amare Campbell was a productive linebacker at North Carolina. Each had decided to move on to the Big Ten, and this football-crazed town in particular, following their team’s respective spring practices. It’s not always easy — and there are past examples here like Dante Cephas — to get up to speed and be ready to roll for preseason camp in just a couple of months. But, both newcomers have seemingly overcome that obstacle ahead of the team’s third preseason practice of the year on Saturday afternoon.

“Pena is a sixth-year guy. Was a captain at his last school. Got a lot of maturity, got a lot of experience,” head coach James Franklin said.

Added defensive coordinator Jim Knowles on Campbell after naming him his player of the day from the opening day of camp back on Wednesday:

“In two days, I see a lot of natural linebacker skills. And, you don’t see that as much in this day and age of college football. Because, a lot of linebackers are converted from other positions. When you look at the past, how he made plays, a lot of it was through natural instinct, through things that you can’t teach. So with Amare, in two days, I see a lot of that.”

More: 3 takeaways from James Franklin’s first camp news conference: The Penn State backup QB situation, the Lions’ O-line battle, more

Later in the day, each new Nittany Lion would be asked ad nauseam about their first months and first two practices at Penn State. It is clear that both are excited for the opportunities ahead of them. Pena, in particular, recounted the message head coach James Franklin gave him during the recruiting process.

“He pushed for me to come here, and I could tell that he wanted me here,” Pena said. “So you have a coach like that, and it kind of makes you feel good and like you’re wanted.”

And camp, he said, is off to a good start.

“It’s definitely different. But, I think it’s a good way, because we have a lot of good guys on offense and on defense. So, being able to compete against those guys is definitely making each other better,” Pena siad. “And, yeah, I feel like we have a long way to go. We have all the camp to get ready, and I think we keep getting better and better every day.”

As for Campbell, his previous relationship with Lions junior linebacker Tony Rojas played a big role in why he picked Penn State. But, it wasn’t the only reason, of course.

“Just the culture and the level in the Big Ten,” he said. “Penn State being a top school in the Big Ten attracted me. And, the ‘Linebacker U’ part of it, as well.”

And Campbell, like Knowles, believes one of his biggest strengths is his ability to know where things are going to happen before they do.

“Being instinctual,” he said when asked about his top attributes. “I feel like play recognition, just being in the right place, getting my teammates aligned, and that type of stuff.”