Why Penn State needs WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith to step up as a ‘true No. 1′ target

STATE COLLEGE — The time is now for KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

He knows it. James Franklin knows it. In an ideal world, college football will know it, too.

Penn State’s wide receiver room is in flux as Drew Allar pushes to become the starting quarterback. Parker Washington left early for the NFL, and Mitchell Tinsley ran out of eligibility, meaning the Nittany Lions have to replace their top two targets from 2022.

Franklin and his staff pursued Kent State transfer Dante Cephas for that specific reason. Cephas totaled 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns the last two seasons for the Golden Flashes. The verbal commit could step in and become Allar’s top target.

But Cephas is finishing up classes at Kent State this semester and isn’t slated to arrive in Happy Valley until the summer. That gives Lambert-Smith the window he’s been waiting for — a real chance to establish himself as Penn State’s top receiver.

“We need him to be the guy,” Franklin said of Lambert-Smith on Tuesday night. “Like a true No. 1 not just at Penn State, but really in the conference and a guy that people are talking about nationally.”

“That’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to,” Lambert-Smith said. “I’ve waited for this time, and it’s time for me to step up. That’s what’s going to happen.”

From his recruiting profile to the contributions he’s made so far, Lambert-Smith has the bonafides of a breakout candidate. The four-star signee was actually rated higher than Washington in the 2020 class. The Virginia native had offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame and USC, but chose Penn State.

Lambert-Smith caught 15 passes as a freshman. He emerged as the third receiver behind Jahan Dotson and Washington in 2021 with 34 catches for 521 yards and three touchdowns. When Dotson left, Lambert-Smith didn’t take full advantage as his production dipped to 24 receptions for 389 yards with four scores in 2022.

Lambert-Smith’s season couldn’t have ended any better, though. He had three catches for 124 yards in the Rose Bowl, including a record-setting 88-yard touchdown. Lambert-Smith’s double move separated him from the Utah defense and helped the Nittany Lions put away the Utes en route to a 35-21 victory.

That game — and that play, in particular — was a glimpse of what Lambert-Smith can do for the Nittany Lions. It’s just a matter of him making his mark on a more consistent basis.

The same could be said for the entire receiver room. As Franklin harped on during last week’s press conference ahead of spring ball opening, wideout is the one position that can change the game the fastest. Penn State’s wideouts have all the potential in the world to do that, Franklin said.

Harrison “Trey” Wallace III showed flashes last season. Florida State transfer Malik McClain has a “dog mentality,” Lambert-Smith said. Malick Meiga has the speed to move from special teams ace to offensive contributor. Omari Evans and Kaden Saunders, a pair of 2022 freshmen, could also make a jump this fall.

Franklin, who isn’t permitted by NCAA rules to discuss Cephas, mentioned Lambert-Smith as a true No. 1 on Tuesday. He mentioned Wallace having “a really nice spring camp so far.” And he emphasized the need to “figure out who the third guy is going to be.”

“There’s gonna be a competition really with all of those guys,” Franklin said. “I think that’s probably one of the big question marks between now and the first game is who’s going to be that third guy that’s going to separate? There’s a number of guys that I think are battling for it. But who’s going to separate themselves from the pack and be a true No. 3? Or are we going to rotate in that position all year long? We’ll see.”

The equation might change when Cephas enrolls. But Lambert-Smith understands the magnitude of the task Franklin is presenting to him over the next few weeks.

“He’s put more responsibility on me,” Lambert-Smith said. “It’s me along with the other vets leading the room, taking the room in our hands and build that culture that Coach (Marques) Hagans is trying to instill in the room. … It’s definitely a challenge becoming that leader that the guys in the room and the team needs me to be.

“I haven’t done exactly what I wanted to in my career. I’ve been waiting for opportunities like this. So for an opportunity to present itself like this, I’m supposed to be a top guy in the country. And I’m going to be a top guy in the country. I’m going to take full advantage of it.”