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Penn State needs KeAndre Lambert-Smith to be a true No. 1, Franklin says

The Nittany Lions need their veteran wide receiver to be one of the best in the Big Ten this year.

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Penn State football KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Nov 27, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (13) runs after a catch during the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Heading into the 2023 season, the Penn State Nittany Lions are losing some solid talent at the wide receiver position. A season ago, standouts like Parker Washington, Mitchell Tinsley, and Brenton Strange were some of Sean Clifford’s favorite targets; however, as we turn the page to a brand new season this fall, Penn State football will be without all three of these pass-catchers. In year one of the Drew Allar era, head coach James Franklin claims that the Nittany Lions need KeAndre Lambert-Smith to be a true No. 1 receiver.

Penn State football news KeAndre Lambert-Smith to be a true No. 1 receiver

The Penn State football team is looking solid at wide receiver right now despite all of its departures from the 2022 squad. The Nittany Lions managed to add two solid receivers from the transfer portal and still have some in-house talent that they can fall back on. That being said, Penn State needs one man to go above and beyond this year: KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

A season ago, Lambert-Smith caught 24 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns — his best performance of the year came against No. 8 Utah in the Rose Bowl game on January 2nd; there, he hauled in three passes for 124 yards and a touchdown during the Nittany Lions’ 14-point win over the Utes. After the Rose Bowl performance, KeAndre Lambert-Smith claimed that, while the 11-2 season was nice, Penn State football is looking for bigger and better in 2023.

James Franklin says Lambert-Smith needs to be a top performer in the Big Ten, not just at Penn State

Here is what head coach James Franklin had to say about KeAndre Lambert-Smith during his media availability on Tuesday afternoon:

“He’s been really good so far this spring,” Franklin said. “We need him to be THE guy, a true number one [receiver], not just at Penn State but really in the [Big Ten] and a guy that people are talking about nationally.”

James Franklin added that Penn State is still figuring out some depth issues when it comes to the wideout room. “There is going to be a competition really with all of [Penn State’s receivers] — I think that is probably one of the big question marks between now and the first game.”

After an incredible 2022 season, the Penn State football team is looking for even better results from its offense. Right now, the quarterback, running back, offenisve line, and tight ends all appear to be somewhat in place; however, as the spring goes on, the Lions must figure out who will start and who will sit when it comes to their receivers. The one thing that we do know for sure: KeAndre Lambert-Smith is going to be a crucial factor in Penn State’s passing game this fall.



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New Penn State football commit says PSU can win national title

The newest Penn State football commit is gunning for a national title.

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Penn State football, Deryc Plazz, national title, 2024 recruiting class
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin celebrates with the trophy on the podium after the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Today, Penn State football made an exciting addition to its 2024 recruiting class by securing the commitment of three-star offensive tackle Deryc Plazz from Florida. Shortly after joining the team, Plazz expressed his bold aspirations for Penn State’s future, confidently proclaiming that the program is poised to claim a future national title and more.

A future national title for Penn State football?

Freshly committed to Penn State football, Deryc Plazz wasted no time in immersing himself in the pursuit of the team’s first national championship since 1986. This promising three-star prospect from Florida showcased his ambitious mindset by sharing his optimistic vision for the future of football in Happy Valley.

“The current class is amazing and it’s truly a blessing to be a part of something this special,” Plazz said, according to Steve Wiltfong. “Looking to load this class up and bring a Natty to Happy Valley.”

Deryc Plazz, Penn State gunning to go above and beyond in the years to come

Plazz doesn’t just want to win a national title during his time at Penn State football, he believes that the Nittany Lions are on track to do so in the near future.

“What’s most exciting about the program is that we’re on track to win a National Championship and that’s the purpose of playing,” Plazz continued. “The opportunity to win a National Championship was the biggest thing. Just knowing that we will constantly be competitive in the college football playoff while and with this 24 class loading up I know we will definitely win it.”

A glass ceiling that needs to break

Currently, Penn State football is showing promising signs of being a strong contender for the Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff this upcoming season. Preseason polls from various outlets consistently rank the Nittany Lions within the range of No. 5-10, which is well-deserved considering their impressive 11-2 record and Rose Bowl victory under the leadership of James Franklin last year.

However, many projections still anticipate Penn State falling short against formidable opponents like Michigan and Ohio State, which would likely result in another New Year’s Six bowl appearance for the team.

While such a season would still be commendable, as being a top 10 program is an achievement in itself, it is encouraging to see the aspirations of Deryc Plazz and the rest of the 2024 recruiting class. Their desire to strive for greater success in the Blue and White during their tenure is a positive indicator of the program’s ambitions and the determination of its players, commits, and the team’s culture in the years to come.



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Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith joins PA-based sports talent firm

The Penn State WR is the third Nittany Lion to sign with the firm since May.

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Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State Football, PA sports talent firm
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday, it was announced that Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith had signed with Inch & Co. Sports, a new PA-based sports talent firm. Lambert-Smith becomes the third Penn State football player to sign with the firm in the last month. The founders of Inch & Co. Sports, John and Jeff Inch, and their larger network of PA-based companies, have become increasingly involved in Penn State’s NIL and athlete representation landscape over the last year.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith signs with PA-based sports talent firm

On Saturday evening, Inch & Co. Sports announced via its social media pages that the organization had signed KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The Penn State WR is coming off a budding end to the 2022 season, where he hauled in 8 catches for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ final two games. Reporting out of spring practice indicated that Lambert-Smith had separated himself from the pack of Penn State receivers.

“He’s been really good so far this spring,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “We need him to be THE guy, a true number one [receiver], not just at Penn State but really in the [Big Ten] and a guy that people are talking about nationally.”

Inch & Co. Sports establishes itself in the Penn State football NIL landscape

Inch & Co. Sports is a York County, PA-based sports talent firm. The company’s founders, brothers John and Jeff Inch, are credited with starting “one of the fastest growing real estate construction companies in the U.S.” According to the firm’s website, its mission is “Representing our athletes with integrity and originality…Whether it’s giving back to the underprivileged, monetizing their image, or guiding them through a professional decision; building trust through honesty is our goal.”

KeAndre Lambert-Smith is the third Penn State football player to sign with the organization since May. The firm first signed QB Beau Pribula, who was a standout at York Central High School, on May 16. Inch & Co. added CB Johnny Dixon later in the month.

Over the last several months, the Inch & Co. network of companies has been establishing itself in the Penn State NIL landscape. In December, the company made headlines when it provided Teslas via a NIL partnership to four Nittany Lions – QB Drew Allar, LB Abdul Carter, CB Kalen King, and OT Olu Fashanu. Pribula was added to the partnership several weeks later.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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New Penn State football quarterback set to enroll early next spring

New Penn State football quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer is set to enroll early next spring.

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New Penn State football quarterback commit
© Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All Blue and White fans are clamoring about new Penn State football quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer, who committed to the Nittany Lions late last month. Now, new reports are suggesting that Penn State’s new quarterback intends to enroll in the university early next spring and get extra time with the team and coaching staff ahead of the 2024 season.

Ethan Grunkemeyer set to enroll early

Ethan Grunkemeyer has been a heavily discussed topic among Penn State football fans. At first, a number of fans and talking heads jumped to conclusions, all voicing disappointment due to his three-star rating. However, upon closer observation, it becomes clear that this new 2024 QB may turn into something special as time goes on.

Grunkemeyer, like Drew Allar, committed to Penn State as a three-star but is expected to become a four-star or even better when all is said and done. In fact, Grunkemeyer earned a bid in State College last month and will be competing with the nation’s top quarterbacks at the Elite 11 finals.

“I’m just really excited to be surrounded by great people — Coach Franklin, Coach Yurcich, Coach [Danny] O’Brien,” Grunkemeyer told 247 Sports in a recent podcast interview. “I’ve built a really good relationship with all those guys. And I know Drew, and he loves his experience there so far. So I’m really happy where I landed, and I’m really excited to start to work with those guys.”

Penn State football has something special with new 2024 quarterback

According to the most recent composite rankings, Penn State football quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer remains a three-star recruit. He is currently ranked as the No. 751 recruit in the nation, the No. 46 quarterback in the 2024 class, and the No. 24 recruit in the state of Ohio. While he may not be the highest-ranked recruit in Penn State’s class, the Nittany Lions have a special player with a bright future ahead of them.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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