Red flag for Drew Allar emerges as former Penn State playmaker finds success after transfer

Tracking how to transfer additions and losses can be an unhealthy tendency, but the Penn State Nittany Lions surely wish they could have one former playmaker back. 

After spending four years at Penn State, KeAndre Lambert-Smith saw his role diminish in the team’s offensive strategy just before the Peach Bowl last year, prompting his transfer to Auburn. Despite an unimpressive year in 2023 as Drew Allar’s primary target, Lambert-Smith has found success, though he's far from vying for a position in the college football playoffs.

Despite Allar showing improvement across the board in key statistics and making himself a possible first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it's fair to wonder if evaluators need to look at Lambert-Smith's sudden improvement as a negative on Allar.

Allar and Penn State's offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki are in search of a standout player for the wide receiver position, and despite Lambert-Smith posting significant numbers, he's likely not content with Auburn's 2-4 start and 0-3 in conference play. 

It appears that both sides might have reasons to lament their separation in the offseason, but tensions might have been too high to retain Lambert-Smith at Happy Valley.

Lambert-Smith didn't hold back in criticizing his former quarterback, praising Auburn QB Payton Thorne’s leadership over Allar. He said, "[Leadership] was kind of lacking where I came from. I know just the difference in how that can make an offense feel. I felt different when I heard him talking. Then, just how he hits me up, ‘Let’s go work out, let’s get these routes, let’s hit the field.”

Unfortunately, his bet on Auburn seems misguided, as the team has been caught in a quarterback controversy throughout 2024. Hugh Freeze's decision to alternate between Payton Thorne and Hank Brown hasn't deterred Lambert-Smith, who has tallied 24 receptions for 510 yards and six touchdowns.

Without Lambert-Smith, Penn State has struggled to ignite their passing game, yet in the challenging environment of the SEC, he's become a key player for big plays. Allar is managing an average of 10.7 yards per attempt, an improvement over the previous year, but the team would benefit from a receiver with Lambert-Smith’s average of 21.3 yards per catch.

While Penn State has had a strong start at 5-0, receivers Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans haven't consistently delivered as the leading wide receivers. 

Wallace has had difficulties in maintaining separation, and Evans, despite his ability to get open, has struggled with catches. Julian Fleming, a highly touted addition, hasn't met expectations as Allar's go-to receiver. However, the team does boast talent, with Tyler Warren making a case as the country's top tight end and Liam Clifford's standout performance in the slot against UCLA in Week 6.

Lambert-Smith's departure initially didn't seem like a significant loss given the promise of NIL opportunities at Auburn, but his excellent performance and Penn State's need for a dependable deep threat indicate Allar could greatly benefit from his former top receiver.

In Week 7, the Nittany Lions will face USC in Los Angeles. Despite the Trojans' unranked status at 3-2, any team coached by Lincoln Riley poses a threat with its offensive capabilities. 

If Tom Allen's defense fails to contain them early, James Franklin may have to rely on his quarterback to outscore the opposition, a challenging task without sufficient offensive weapons.

For Allar, continuing to evolve the offense and maximizing his available weapons will quiet any concerns that could evolve from this situation. I don't personally hold this breakout against Allar, and I think he has the chance to rise to as high a level as QB2 or QB3 in this class, but we'll see how these big matchups play out.