It’s been a tough past month for Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
Over the team’s last three games of 2023, Lambert-Smith put up a total of three catches for 28 yards.
In the team’s Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss, he didn’t catch a single pass.
KLS wasn’t pleased. He showed that after the game by refusing to talk to media who were allowed locker room access, per PennLive’s Johnny McGonigal.
Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith declined to comment during the open locker room window. Said he didn’t want to be rude. Just didn’t want to answer questions.
— Johnny McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) December 30, 2023
KLS took to social media the next morning. Before that, fellow Kaden Saunders sent a post to X (formerly Twitter) defending an often criticized receivers room.
All I see on my twitter is stuff about our wide receivers 🤣 We have more than enough talent trust me lol
— 𝐊𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 (@KSaunders03) December 31, 2023
“All I see on my twitter is stuff about our wide receivers 🤣 We have more than enough talent trust me lol.”
Lambert-Smith responded to the post. He expressed his displeasure of said outside criticism.
“Man let them folk talk,” KLS wrote, quoting Saunders’ post. “Half them ain’t never played a down of football lol 😵 💫 😵 💫 the internet is the only way they stay relevant 7 🤞🏾.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Man let them folk talk, half them ain’t never played a down of football lol
😵💫😵💫😵💫 the internet is the only way they stay relevant 7🤞🏾 https://t.co/r1aeg9GtSu— uno (@drelambertt) December 31, 2023
“7” is Saunders’ jersey number.
Omari Evans, who just finished his second season at Penn State also wrote a post Sunday morning that could have been directed toward critics, but the meaning wasn’t as clear as Lambert-Smith’s and Saunders’ posts.
Stay on that side 👍🏽 fr tho
— Omari Evans ✰ (@_realmar13) December 31, 2023
“Stay on that side,” he posted, “fr (for real) tho.”
It’s easy to see why Penn State’s receivers got so much criticism, not just Saturday, but all season.
Lambert-Smith (53 catches, 673 yards, four TD) put up respectable numbers. But he was the only Penn State WR who eclipsed 300 yards.
WR coach Marques Hagans, head coach James Franklin and company will need to add at least one and probably multiple receivers from the transfer portal this offseason. As of now, Ohio State WR Julian Fleming is projected to commit.
