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The Penn State Nittany Lions finished the 2023 college football season with a 10-3 record and could well have been even better if not for a receiving corps that struggled all year to get separation and catch the ball.
Now that receiving corps is down it’s top weapon.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who led the Nittany Lions in catches (53) and yards (673) officially entered the transfer portal on Monday.
Rumors began to swirl about the former four-star recruit after he missed multiple spring practices and wasn’t in attendance at Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage.
He was expected to start again in 2024 alongside incoming transfer Julian Fleming and one of several other options. But the departure also isn’t overly shocking.
Lambert-Smith made two catches for 28 yards over the final four games of the regular season. He then went without a catch in a Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. He also declined all interviews following the loss.
“I think (offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has) done a really good job with him as well. They seem to have a good relationship,” James Franklin recently said about Lambert-Smith. “I think (wide receivers coach Marques Hagans) has done a really good job of developing relationships with the whole room. Obviously, we need him to have a big year and expect him to have a big year.”
He may well have a big year. But it looks like it won’t be for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State will likely lean on its heralded run game junior stars Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen in his absence. While Fleming, tight end Tyler Warren, and returning wideouts Tre Wallace and Kaden Saunders now take center stage in the passing game.
Lambert-Smith joins fellow 2023 starter Dante Cephas as Penn State wideouts to hit the portal. Cephas, who transferred in from Kent State the year prior, is now at Kansas State for his final season.