Drew Allar might be missing former Penn State wide receiver having a huge year

After four years at Penn State, KeAndre Lambert-Smith was phased out of the Nittany Lion’s offensive plan before last year’s Peach Bowl, eventually leading him to transfer to Auburn. Now, after an underwhelming 2023 as Drew Allar’s No. 1 target, Lambert-Smith is thriving, but far from competing for a spot in the college football playoff. 

Allar and Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki need a big-time playmaker on the outside, and Lambert-Smith even with huge numbers, can’t be loving Auburn’s 2-4 start and 0-3 record in conference play. It would seem that both parties have a good reason to regret their offseason breakup, but there may have been too much bad blood to keep Lambert-Smith in Happy Valley. 

Lambert-Smith took a few parting shots at his former quarterback, lauding Auburn QB Payton Thorne’s leadership at Allar’s expense. Clearly, the fifth-year receiver backed the wrong horse because Auburn has spent 2024 embroiled in a quarterback controversy. Hugh Freeze benched Payton Thorne for Hank Brown, only to bench Hank Brown for Payton Thorne, and yet, Lambert-Smith has 24 catches for 510 yards and six touchdowns. 

Penn State strained all season to create an explosive with Lambert-Smith in the passing game and now in less-than-ideal circumstances in the SEC, he’s a big-play machine. Allar is averaging 10.7 yards per attempt and his offense has already generated 18 20+ yard passing plays compared to 30 in all of 2023, but he could certainly still use a 6-foot-1 receiver averaging 21.3 yards per reception. 

Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans have shown flashes through Penn State’s 5-0 start, but neither has emerged as a reliable WR1. Wallace has struggled to create enough consistent separation to be a chain-mover and Evans can separate, but holding onto the football is a different question. Julian Fleming, the coaching staff’s offseason prize at the position isn’t even worthy of consideration as Allar’s top target. Still, there are nice pieces in this passing game, Tyler Warren could be the best tight end in the country and Liam Clifford had a breakout performance from the slot against UCLA in Week 6. 

Lambert-Smith didn’t feel like a catastrophic loss when he fled for the opportunity and NIL dollars down on The Plains, but now, with his fantastic start and more importantly with the lack of a reliable downfield threat in Happy Valley, Allar could use his former No. 1. 

In Week 7, the Nittany Lions are heading to LA to face USC. The Trojans are unranked at 3-2, but any Lincoln Riley-coached team has explosive offensive potential. If Tom Allen’s defense can’t snuff out the wick before it reaches the powder, then James Franklin will be forced to ask his quarterback to win a shootout, and Allar may not have enough weapons.