Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith is expected to enter the transfer portal in the coming week, according to reports by On3. Lambert-Smith led the Nittany Lions last season with 53 receptions, but had just two catches in the final four games.
The prospect of Lambert-Smith entering the portal had been the subject of ongoing speculation in the back half of the Nittany Lions’ season, although the occasionally mercurial wideout offered no comments suggesting he would.
Prior to this past season, Lambert-Smith had shown flashes at other points in his career, including Penn State’s win over Utah in the post-2022 Rose Bowl, but failed to string together consistent performances that matched his unofficial status as Penn State’s No. 1 receiver during the 2023 season. The loss of fellow top target Trey Wallace over the course of the year to injury did little to help Lambert-Smith’s cause.
Penn State coach James Franklin noted earlier this spring that the receivers’ room had taken strides, but otherwise was still looking to establish a gap between presumed starters and depth players.
“I think (Lambert-Smith) had a good spring; he’s shown some real flashes this spring and I’m seeing them on a more consistent basis,” Franklin said. “We need him to have a big year and expect him to have a big year, and I’m seeing more consistency in the special plays and production.”
In his absence, Penn State will likely lean on the combination of Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming and Wallace, in addition to a handful of options across the depth chart, including Liam Clifford, Omari Evans, Kaden Saunders and others.
The Nittany Lions will give at least a taste of what that might look like on Saturday as part of the annual Blue-White Game. As of early Friday evening, Penn State had yet to release rosters for the scrimmage, which ought to shed some light on the coaching staff’s thinking at that position, among others.
