Branden Pena

Height:
6-2
Weight:
286
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Salinas, Calif.
High School:
North Salinas
Prev School:
Hartnell
Major:
Communication

Had the unfortunate distinction of suffering season-ending knee injuries in back-to-back campaigns … Because of the medical setbacks, was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA in the spring of 2019 … Appears on track to replicate his first successful recovery with a notable “bounce-back” spring performance (following the second injury) … Closed out drills listed as the Pirates’ starting center on the two-deep heading into preseason training camp … Opened ECU career as a guard but flexibility allowed move to the center position during the spring because of depth concerns (other personnel injuries) … Used untraditional redshirt year in 2016 after signing with the Pirates out of junior college.

2018: Earned the starting nod at right guard in what was originally deemed his senior season … Opened the first four games against North Carolina A&T, North Carolina, USF and Old Dominion … Season ended prematurely after suffering a second knee injury during the tilt vs. the Monarchs at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Helped Pirates to a 2-2 overall record and the third-highest offensive performance of the year (510 total yards vs. Tar Heels) before being sidelined … ECU also turned its second, third and fourth-highest single-game rushing totals of the season in three of his starts – 220 vs. UNC, 179 vs. ODU and 156 vs. USF – an average of 185.0 rypg.

2017: Season was cut short by a knee injury suffered in the opener against James Madison … Spent remainder of the fall campaign in full rehabilitation mode, thus did not experience additional action … Completed fall camp on the offensive depth chart as a top backup at the center position.

2016: Redshirted during first campaign at ECU … Contributed to weekly preparation as a member of the offensive scout squad ... Was a late addition to the 2016 signing class, officially inking with the Pirate program on March 31.

Junior College: Helped lead Hartnell to a 10-1 overall record and 5-1 league mark as a sophomore in 2015 … Earned all-conference honors in the Northern California American Conference’s Golden Coast Division … An integral part of an offensive unit that averaged 30.4 points per game (44 overall touchdowns) … Panthers stood seventh in the entire California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in passing yards per game (307.8), ninth in third-down conversions (41.7 percent) and 15th in total offense (439.0 ypg), while also averaging 131.4 rushing yards per outing … Part of a HC program that opened 2015 season with nine-straight victories before suffering first setback against West Hills Coalinga (19-13) on Nov. 14 … Panthers rebounded to take Living Breath Foundation Bowl (Salinas, Calif.) with a convincing 41-28 win against Contra Costa on Nov. 28 … Experienced significant action as a freshman and helped guide Hartnell to a 9-2 overall mark, a 5-1 league slate and a bowl appearance.

High School: Earned three letters as an interior blocker at North Salinas High School.

Personal: Full name is Branden Adam Pena … Earned a bachelor’s degree in communications during ECU’s Spring Commencement Exercises on May 4, 2018 … Currently working on a second degree (management).