Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith made the most of his opportunities on Saturday evening, racking five catches for 83-yards while also passing for a touchdown en route to the Nittany Lions’ 35-16 win over Michigan State at Beaver Stadium. It was the sort of performance fans have been hoping to see from a receiver who has shown moments of brilliance as much as moments he would like to have back. A career so-far highlighted by promise but occasionally handicapped by growing pains.
There was nothing but good Saturday for the sophomore receiver, and there’s something to be said for a full four quarters.
“I definitely felt like it was a confidence booster just ending the regular season on a positive note,” Lambert-Smith said after the game. “For me individually I don’t think I went over 40 yards in the last good amount of games so it was great for me ending on that note and for the offense in general.”
Lambert-Smith is right in his recollection, so far in 2022 he has just two games – Ohio State and Purdue – in which he racked up more than 40 yards receiving. Now in the absence of injured star receiver Parker Washington, Lambert-Smith made the most of his opportunity Saturday to step up when his number was called. And sometimes taking that next step is simply a product of being ready when the moment finally comes.
“You just gotta stay prepared, control what you can control, we preach that a lot,” Lambert-Smith said. “So just staying ready for the opportunity that could come at any moment rather than moping and then when the opportunity does come you’re not ready for it. So just being prepared. Whatever situation you’re in it only builds character. Just from freshman year to now, everything I went through, the ups and the downs, it created who I am today with the resilience and mindset.”
Lambert-Smith smiled and laughed when thinking about his 48-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Theo Johnson having dabbled in quarterback play while in high school, all the same the belief it took to step up and make that pass was emblematic of the night he was having – a night full of confidence. For some that might come naturally, but to others it is a swagger learned over time and when it’s finally unlocked it can be the difference between the player you were and the player you’ve become.
“He’s a leader in the room and everybody, feeds off his energy,” quarterback Sean Clifford said. “And when he’s up, he’s elite. He’s a great, great player. I shared a moment with him [after the game] we just talked about the ups and downs that both of us have had, it’s awesome to see him come out and play a complete game and make a bunch of plays and realistically, you know, be a deciding factor on this win. So I’m really impressed with how he’s developed over the years and I’m super proud to have him as my teammate.”
“I think looking back at our freshman year, it’s like night and day difference from from how he carries himself how he handles things,” Johnson said after the game. “KeAndre is one of my roommates so I’ve seen that growth a little bit more than some other people probably. […] I think that there’s a learning curve for everyone. Whether you’re the best recruit and you come in and the transition is a little seamless and other guys maybe there’s a steeper learning curve. […] I think that everyone kind of has a period where they have to adjust, but some it’s quicker than others.”
In many respects Penn State wants to be like Lambert-Smith, turning flashes of confidence and elite play into consistency and execution. Of course both will have their chances to prove their worth in 2023 and beyond, connected to on another by a shared quest to become better than what they once were. A goal easier said than done, but a goal that starts with nights like Saturday.
