Tag: KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Former Auburn receiver Jay Fair transfers to USC

Auburn Football’s most productive receiver from a season ago has taken his talents to the West Coast, where he will play for the USC Trojans in 2024.

Auburn Football’s most productive receiver from a season ago has taken his talents to the West Coast, where he will play for the USC Trojans in 2024.

While Jay Fair is coming off an impressive season in which he led all Auburn wide receivers with 31 receptions, the junior’s role on the depth chart was ambiguous at best with freshmen talent such as [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag], and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] joining highly touted transfer [autotag]Keandre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] on the Plains next season.

The former three-star recruit heads to USC with a much more direct route to playing time with the two most productive Trojan wideouts from a season ago, Brendan Rice and Tahj Washington, turning pro after being selected in the NFL Draft.

Fair’s departure ultimately clears up Auburn’s 2024 receiving room enough for coach Hugh Freeze to get a good idea on what it will look like heading into the fall.

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Three recent Auburn commits rank among The Athletic’s top spring transfer portal players

Auburn has had a successful spring transfer portal window by landing the nation’s best available talent.

Auburn football has filled several needs during the early portion of the spring transfer portal window, which includes several big names.

The Athletic released its ranking of the top 20 spring transfer portal players, with three players being removed from the list following their commitments to Auburn.

Auburn landed former Indiana defensive lineman Philip Blidi last week, who is considered a “great fit” for Auburn by CBS Sports. Blidi checked in at No. 20 in Max Olson’s rankings following a great season at Indiana in 2023.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle played a rotational role at Texas Tech for three seasons before he joined the Hoosiers and recorded 30 tackles, four TFLs and 15 pressures over 11 starts.

One spot above Blidi at No. 19 is former Arkansas State defensive lineman [autotag]Keyron Crawford[/autotag], who committed to Auburn on Monday. Crawford was a threat in his opposition’s backfield last season by making over 10 tackles for loss.

The 6-foot-4, 243-pound pass rusher had a strong sophomore season for the Red Wolves with 45 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles and ranked in the top 10 among Sun Belt defensive linemen in pressures (39), according to PFF. He’s a former basketball player who has only played football for three years, so there’s plenty of room to grow.

Former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] is Auburn’s most recent transfer portal addition. Lambert-Smith was Penn State’s top receiver last season and looks to provide leadership to Auburn’s young receiver room. He rounds out the list at No. 5.

Lambert-Smith started 38 games over his four years with the Nittany Lions and emerged as the clear No. 1 target for quarterback Drew Allar in 2023, finishing with 53 catches for 673 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound senior has one more season of eligibility and is looking to boost his NFL Draft position elsewhere.

Auburn has secured 13 transfer portal commitments since December and has climbed into the top 25 of 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings by checking in at No. 23.

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Auburn lands former Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith out of portal

Auburn football is continuing to improve its receiving corps for the 2024 season, adding Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Auburn football is continuing to make moves to its roster through the transfer portal, gaining some high talent from other programs within the last few days.

Things got better for coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and this Tiger offense, as former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] announced he is joining this new and improved receiving squad on Wednesday.

Auburn lands the senior after he entered the transfer portal on April 15. Lamber-Smith left State College after four years of playing under James Franklin, making a significant impact on the field for the Nittany Lions.

He started in 12 of the team’s 13 games last season. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 53 catches on the year and sixth in receiving yards, posting 673.

The 6-1, 185-pound receiver only racked up four touchdowns, with his longest being a 72-yard house call in the Penn State’s season opener with West Virginia. He was able to post over 80 yards catching four times, as well.

He is currently the only player in Nittany Lion history to have ever recorded multiple 80-yard reception. He also has three touchdown receptions of over 70 yards to his name, to go along with his 20 catches of over 20 yards.

Lambert-Smith is set to join veteran transfers [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] out of Georgia State and [autotag]Sam Jackson V[/autotag] out of California in this receiving corps, to go along with highly touted freshman class the Tigers are bringing in at the position.

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Former Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith is reportedly down to two teams

Texas A&M is a finalist for former Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Great news regarding Texas A&M’s hopes of landing former Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith from the spring transfer portal, as On3’s Pete Nakos has now confirmed that it will come down to the Aggies or the Auburn Tigers before a final decision is made.

Needing another veteran presence at the position heading into the 2024 campaign, the spring games’ results proved said need, as junior wide receiver Noah Thomas was the only real presence in the passing game, recording seven receptions for 82 and two touchdowns for the Maroon team on the day.

After visiting College Station last weekend, Lambert-Smith likely understands where his place on the roster would be going into fall camp, as Thomas, alongside senior wide receivers Moose Muhammad III and Jahdae Walker are still competing for the No. 1-receiving spot, with Thomas in the clear lead as of now.

However, Lambert-Smith possesses the size, speed, and experience that would elevate the Aggies’ wide receiver rotation and make starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s job that much easier. At the same time, the new offensive coordinator, Collin Klein, continues to implement his new offensive system.

Standing at 6-1 and nearly 190 pounds, Lambert-Smith was extremely productive for the Nittany Lions over the past four seasons. He recorded 1,721 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through the air, including a career-high 673 yards and four scores in 2023.

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Jay Fair becomes second Tiger to enter transfer portal

Fair logged 34 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn.

The spring transfer portal window has been relatively quiet for Auburn, as just two players have declared their intention to depart from the program.

Joining defensive lineman [autotag]Brenton Williams[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Jay Fair[/autotag] has also elected to dip into the transfer portal after spending two seasons on the Plains.

Fair was a notable player heading into the 2023 season following a successful training camp. The hype bled into the season as he made 14 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns in Auburn’s first three games. However, his production dipped as he managed to record just 17 catches for 150 yards and zero scores over the final 10 games.

Despite his late struggles, Fair was second in receptions with 31, third in yards with 324, and tied for third with two touchdown catches. Auburn’s leading receiver, [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], returns to the team for the 2024 season. At the same time, true freshmen [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag], [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag], and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] are expected to enter the receiver rotation.

Auburn has received one commitment from the spring window, former Indiana defensive lineman Philip Blidi. Former Penn State receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and former USC [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag] are also high on Auburn’s board.

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Former Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith schedules official visit to Auburn

Who says there is such a thing as too much talent in your wide receiver room?

Who says there is such a thing as too much talent in your wide receiver room?

Auburn is set to have one of its most talented wide receiver rooms in recent memory as Georgia State’s leading receiver from last season, [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], joins the roster in addition to true freshmen [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag], and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag].

However, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] wants to give his quarterbacks every advantage possible. Because of this, he is pursuing one of the top wide receivers in the transfer portal.

Former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] entered the transfer portal this week, and is already filling his calendar with official visits. According to Pete Nakos of On3, Lambert-Smith will be in Auburn for his official visit beginning Thursday.

Lambert-Smith had a productive career at Penn State. In four seasons, he logged 1,721 yards on 126 catches with 11 touchdowns. He completed his best season in 2023 by hauling in 53 passes for 673 yards, both were career-highs. He also tied his career-best in touchdowns with four.

He was Penn State’s highest-graded receiver according to Pro Football Focus with a 74.0. He caught 53 of 85 targeted passes with 11 contested catches and five drops.

Lambert-Smith has scheduled for Texas A&M that will take place following his Auburn visit this weekend. Colorado and West Virginia are other known schools that are actively pursuing Lambert-Smith.

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Texas A&M is set to host former Penn State WR this weekend

In need of more wide receiver depth, Texas A&M will reportedly host WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith this weekend

Just three days until the annual Maroon & White spring game, Texas A&M and head coach Mike Elko will now reportedly host one of the top playmakers who recently entered the spring transfer portal, as former Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith is back on the market.

After it was revealed that former Troy WR Jabre Barber sustained an injury that will keep him sidelined for at least four months, adding one or two more proven receivers to the roster was a priority regardless of Barber’s sustained absence.

While the current wide receiver depth chart is respectable, Ainias Smith’s departure to the draft, coupled with Evan Stewart’s transfer to Oregon, left a noticeable experienced-based hole. As soon as it was announced that Lambert-Smith was back in the portal, Elko and his staff immediately made the call.

Standing at 6-1 and nearly 190 pounds, Lambert-Smith has been extremely productive for the Nittany Lions over the past four seasons. He recorded 1,721 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through the air, including a career-high 673 yards and four scores in 2023.

With size, speed, and experience, this would be a home run signing for a team just a couple of playmakers away from competing in 2024. According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Lambert-Smith will visit Texas A&M on Saturday, April 20, to the following Monday after visiting Auburn the previous Thursday-Saturday.

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Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert Smith officially enters transfer portal

Penn State’s leading WR from a year ago officially enters the portal after being away from the team.

If it was not already apparent after Saturday’s Blue-White Game, Penn State will be looking for another receiver in the transfer portal after its leading receiver from a year ago, [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], officially entered the portal. After reports came out Monday afternoon, Lambert-Smith announced his exit on Instagram. He will have one season of eligibility left.

“I want to thank Penn State for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream of playing college football at the highest level, while also being able to earn my degree,” Lambert-Smith said in a message on his Instagram account. “With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal as a grad transfer. Everyone has their own book. This is just the next chapter in mine.”

Late last week, reports said that Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith was away from the team and considering entering the portal. After he was nowhere to be seen at Beaver Stadium on Saturday during the spring game, all signs pointed to his exit.

Lambert-Smith led the Nittany Lions with 53 catches and 673 yards last year. After a big game against West Virginia in the 2023 season opener, he never eclipsed the 100-yard mark again. He seemed to rarely be on the same page with starting quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag].

He will leave Penn State ranked in the program’s top 20 for career receptions and receiving yards and the only player to record multiple 80-yard receptions.

Penn State’s passing offense was not good last season and lacked explosiveness. Lambert-Smith was supposed to take the top off the defense, so replacing his ability to stretch the field should be a massive priority for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff during this open period of the portal.

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James Franklin on how Andy Kotelnicki will help Drew Allar in 2024

James Franklin says Andy Kotelnicki will have a few ways to help take the pressure off Drew Allar in 2024.

After a frustrating season with the offense in 2023, Penn State is hoping for much more positive and explosive results in 2024. Penn State hired one of the top offensive coordinators in the country this offseason with the addition of [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] from Kansas, and the transfer portal has likely helped add some potential to improve the passing game with the addition of [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] from Ohio State. But head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] knows all of these changes will only help out if Kotelnicki and quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], who is heading into his second season as the starting quarterback, get on the same page as early as possible.

Kotelnicki and Allar are getting more of a feel for each other this spring as football practices continue on and lead up to next month’s spring game, the Blue-White Game, but Franklin knows there will be a lot that goe sinto helping Allar take his game to the next level. And he belives Kotelnicki will use a number of things to help take the pressure off of Allar and improve his game this fall.

“I think some of the things that we can do to compliment the run game in the play action pass to create explosive plays to open really the field up and make them defend the whole 120 yards and the whole 53 and one-third, I think is really important, and I think the play-action pass will be a big part of that with Drew, with Andy, with our offense in general,” Franklin said in a recent press conference.

“The other thing is, I think some things that you can do that we did later in the season,” Franklin added. “I think the last two games, if you look at our explosive play percentage, it dramatically increased. I think there’s some things that you can do with the wide receivers in terms of motion, in terms of alignment, like stacks and bunches and things like that, that we can do to help our guys versus man coverage. I think that’s going to be really, really important for us as well.”

Penn State was lacking in explosive plays last season but the return of [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and the addition of Fleming could help change that a bit this fall. Opposing defenses were rarely threatened by Penn State’s wide receivers, so the hope will be that Kotelnicki finds ways to get the ball to Allar’s targets quicker so they can do some damage.

Quotes provided by Penn State athletics.

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Penn State’s leading receiver poised to return for the 2024 season

Penn State’s leading receiver shared a social media post seemingly suggesting he has made up his mind for the 2024 season.

The wide receivers were Penn State’s worst position group throughout the 2023 season. It never seemed to completely click between the receivers and starting quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]. No pass catcher surpassed the 700-yard mark or 53 receptions.

Yesterday evening, Penn State’s leading receiver from a season ago, [autotag]KeAndre Lambert Smith[/autotag], posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), giving a shoutout to Penn State’s NIL collective, Happy Valley United. Although this is technically not an explicit declaration of returning to State College, it does seem that the post, plus no announcement from Lambert-Smith about NFL draft plans, points to a return.

With former Ohio State wide receiver and former 5-star recruit [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] also now in the fold, the wide receiver room seems to be trending in the right direction. Lambert-Smith caught 53 passes for 673 yards and four touchdowns. The return of ‘KLS’ adds to the veteran leadership presence to mentor the younger guys like [autotag]Harrison Wallace III[/autotag] and [autotag]Omari Evans[/autotag].

Consistency will be key up and down the depth chart, but no doubt new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelenicki will count on Lambert-Smith and others to produce far better than last year. The receiver group will definitely be a position to watch throughout spring ball and as the season approaches.

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