‘I visualized a touchdown’: Penn State’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith on his Rose Bowl record-breaker

PASADENA, Calif. — In the buildup to the Rose Bowl, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison “Trey” Wallace III workshopped touchdown celebrations at Penn State’s hotel. And on Monday night, Lambert-Smith got to show off what he decided on.

No, Lambert-Smith wasn’t actually hurt when he held his hamstring in the end zone. He was mirroring a celebration popularized by NWSL player Lo’eau LaBonta. But it wouldn’t have been a shock if he pulled something. After all, he was running for a while.

Lambert-Smith covered 88 yards on his fourth-quarter touchdown in Penn State’s 35-21 win over Utah in “The Granddaddy of Them All.” The catch-and-run set a record for the longest reception in Rose Bowl history.

The “longest-distance lightning strike,” as ESPN’s Chris Fowler called it on the broadcast, was more than a play that gave Penn State a 28-14 lead. It was a culmination of a rollercoaster season for Lambert-Smith and perhaps an indicator of the future.

“It’s a sign,” Lambert-Smith told PennLive outside Penn State’s locker room. “For the people, the Penn State fans or the media, it’s a sign of what’s to come.”

If that’s the case, the Nittany Lions will certainly take it.

Next year’s offense is going to be different. Sean Clifford will be gone with Drew Allar expected to take over at quarterback. Wide receivers Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley and tight end Brenton Strange — the Nittany Lions’ three leaders in receptions and receiving yards entering the Rose Bowl — are also gone.

Enter a player like Lambert-Smith, who was pegged as a breakout candidate before this season. The Virginia native had 34 catches for 521 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. Many thought he would build on that, especially with the absence of first-round departure Jahan Dotson. But that didn’t come to fruition.

Going into the Rose Bowl, Lambert-Smith had 21 catches for 265 yards. He secured a touchdown but struggled with drops to open the season at Purdue. He had only five receptions in his next six games and surpassed 30 receiving yards on just three occasions. Lambert-Smith did finish strong with five catches for 83 yards against Michigan State with Washington out of the lineup due to injury.

“I still don’t think it’s up to what I initially expected of myself,” Lambert-Smith said. “I hold myself to high expectations. … I’ve been through adversity with an injury and a few drops in the first game. But I learned that I can bounce back. In a season, you can bounce back. If you make mistakes, that’s normal. It’s not the end.”

Lambert-Smith proved that in Pasadena.

He secured a 32-yard catch from Clifford, who was rolling to his left and somehow got away from pressure. That led to Tinsley’s second-quarter touchdown grab. Then, of course, there was the 88-yarder.

Clifford, Lambert-Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich completely duped the Utes. Clifford sold the play-fake to Kaytron Allen and then subtly shoulder-pumped before uncorking a deep ball for the streaking receiver. Lambert-Smith, after running a double move, was wide open.

“We had the play on the call sheet, but it wasn’t a third-and-medium call,” said Yurcich, who dialed it up on third-and-4. “Seeing how they were playing us, what we were doing on third down and how the game unfolds, you’ve got to adjust a bit. Sometimes plays recategorize themselves on your call sheet.”

“I was expecting one-high with a man look,” Lambert-Smith recalled. “But I actually saw three guys. It looked like Cover Two. I saw the safety close to my side and a corner. But I knew I could make the double move and split them. When I made my move and looked, the ball was in the air. I mean, I just did what I do.”

Lambert-Smith knew when the ball was in the air that he was going to score.

“I always visualize success, visualize myself making plays,” Lambert-Smith added. “That play was called, and I visualized a touchdown.”

In an ideal world for Penn State, Lambert-Smith’s visualizations will keep coming true in 2023.