Ex-WR takes veiled jabs at Drew Allar, Penn State football offense in new interview

It was an active spring transfer portal window for Penn State football, the most notable of eight departures being Nittany Lions’ leading wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith. In one of his first interviews since joining the Auburn program in April, Lambert-Smith explained his decision to leave Happy Valley and his attraction to The Plains. However, when talking about his new program, the transfer wide receiver’s comments could not be viewed without undertones of criticism of Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar and the Penn State offense overall.

Speaking to Jason Campbell and Taylor Davis of the BLEAV in Everything Auburn podcast, KeAndre Lambert-Smith went in-depth on his experiences since joining the Tigers this spring. When speaking of Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne, the ex-Nittany Lion seemingly drew a stark contrast between his new signal caller and Penn State’s Drew Allar.

“Just being around Payton, No. 1, Payton came from the Big Ten; he beat me at Penn State already,” Lambert-Smith said. “So, just being around him, hearing how he controls the team at the end of a workout, the leadership, I think that gives the offense a sense of confidence right there.

“That kind of was lacking where I came from. I know just the difference in how that can make an offense feel. I felt different when I heard him talking. Then, just how he hits me up, ‘Let’s go work out, let’s get these routes, let’s hit the field.’”

KLS on the ‘BLEAV’ YouTube channel, his thoughts on Payton Thorne, and how well the offense is clicking in the offseason. Beyond ready for the season 😮‍💨

War. Damn. Eagle. 🦅🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/jwl4T1WszL

— Tyler Winfrey (@Tylerwinfrey25) July 12, 2024

Much like Penn State football, Auburn is trying to flip the script on an offensive unit that was viewed by many as underperforming last season. But for KeAndre Lambert-Smith, the vibe around the Tigers program is different from the one he left in Happy Valley.

“I just feel like everybody is practicing with the intent that this narrative is going to change,” he said. “I haven’t been here, but I hear the same stuff that you guys hear. Just feel that everybody has a chip on their shoulder to really change the narrative. We’ve got the guys to do it–not only at receiver but at tight end, running back, quarterback–I feel like we have quarterbacks after Payton who can step up and throw really good deep balls and anything.

“I feel like the offense is–I think I just told somebody, I think it was DA [running back Damari Alston]–I haven’t been a part of an offense where I felt like, we got it. I’m so ready for the season. I’m ready for camp. Even in workouts, there are DBs next to me lifting; I’m like, ‘We’re about to be the best group on the team… Let’s go!’ I like to bring energy. I like to bring juice.”

Commitment, expectations for Penn State offense are high in 2024

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Leaving the program in the week leading up to the Blue-White Game, Penn State football finished spring practice and has continued to move forward without KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

All eyes will turn to the wide receivers as a clear area of improvement in 2024. And so far, the progress reports from offseason workouts have been positive.

“They’re ten times ahead even from where we were in the spring,” Drew Allar said of his receivers recently. “And I think it’s really been three leaders in that room: Trey [Wallace], Liam [Clifford], and [Julian] Fleming. I think they’ve taken it upon themselves to change that culture.”

Under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, the Nittany Lions hope to do much more than correct the offensive woes of a season ago. Collectively, the unit is striving to become one of the most lethal offenses in the country.

“I’m really excited with the progress that we made from spring ball,” Allar said. “I think the commitment is at an all-time high since I’ve been here. The culture is really good on the offensive side of the ball. We’re pushing each other; defense is pushing us. We’re pushing the defense throughout workouts and our skill instruction. So it’s been really good. A lot of healthy competition.

“And I think offensively, and my goals for the season: just be the best offense in the country. That’s always going to be our goal. And fortunately enough, we’re going against what’s going to be, again, one of the top defenses in the country. So it’s going to test our abilities day in and day out when we get into fall camp. But we’re up to the challenge.”

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