Hugh Freeze and his staff left spring practices with the ambition of adding an experienced receiver to a room filled with promising talent and transfers that simply lacks snaps at the power conference level.
With Penn State graduate transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s announced commitment to the program Wednesday evening, the Tigers seemed to have accomplished their goal.
Transferring with one year of eligibility remaining, Lambert-Smith comes to the Plains after playing 48 games for the Nittany Lions averaging 13.7 yards per catch over his four seasons.
Prior to committing to Auburn over Texas A&M, Lambert-Smith was set to be the Big Ten’s leading returning wideout after 673 yards receiving in 2023 – over 275 more yards receiving than any individual Tiger last season.
The Norfolk, VA native has been a weapon for James Franklin’s offense over the last four seasons. Lambert-Smith has posted three career touchdown receptions of 70 plus yards and owns 20 catches that have gone for 20 plus yards.
Lambert-Smith, the only player in Penn State history with multiple 80-yard receptions, notably posted an 88-yard touchdown catch from Sean Clifford in the Rose Bowl Game victory over Utah – the fourth longest passing play in program history.
During his senior season in State College, PA, Lambert-Smith more than doubled his reception total from the 2022 season with 53 last season – which ranked fifth in the Big Ten.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 188-pounds, Lambert-Smith has racked up 1,598 career receiving yards on 116 receptions at Penn State.
In Lambert-Smith’s two appearances against his now current team, the wideout had just two receptions for 16 yards receiving inside of Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2022, but did, however, complete a pass to Sean Clifford during a second quarter trick play for 25 yards. During the 2021 clash, Lambert-Smith had 27 yards receiving on four receptions.
Lambert-Smith will link up with veteran transfers Robert Lewis, from Georgia State, and Sam Jackson V, from Cal, to lead Auburn’s young receiver room of Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons in the Tigers’ passing attack in 2024.
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Patrick is a sophomore from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2022.
