Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1512721
8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 OPENING SHOT A FOND FAREWELL KeAndre Lambert-Smith was among the Senior Day honorees who were saluted ahead of Penn State's home finale Nov. 18 against Rutgers. The fourth-year junior receiver was getting set to play his final game in Beaver Stadium, and he marked the occasion with his mother, Karla, by his side in ceremonies prior to kickoff. Lambert-Smith was one of 25 Nittany Lion play- ers who were recognized on Senior Day. The list included virtually the entire starting offensive line (tackles Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Caedan Wallace, center Hunter Nourzad and guard Sal Wormley), as well as three stalwarts on the defensive front (tackles Hakeem Beamon and Dvon Ellies and end Adisa Isaac) and two special teams standouts who had transferred to PSU earlier this year (kicker Alex Felkins and punter Riley Thompson). Lambert-Smith was one of three wideouts among the honorees, joining Dante Cephas and Malick Meiga. The Norfolk, Va., native didn't have a reception in Penn State's 27-6 victory over the Scar- let Knights. In fact, he wasn't even targeted during an afternoon when the Lions relied heavily on their running game to wear down the visitors' defense. PSU ran for 234 yards on 34 carries, while quar- terbacks Drew Allar and Beau Pribula attempted just 14 passes between them for 88 yards. The Lions' leading receiver was another Senior Day honoree, fourth-year junior tight end Tyler Warren, with 2 catches for 32 yards. Even so, Lambert-Smith finished the regular sea- son as Penn State's top pass catcher by a wide margin. He had 52 receptions for 651 yards and 4 touchdowns. His yardage total more than doubled Warren's second-place haul of 273 yards. As important as the numbers may be, coach James Franklin said that on Senior Day, he tends to reflect on the chemistry that players create among each other and with the coaching staff, both on and off the field. "I don't think people totally understand unless you've played college sports," Franklin said. "I don't think it's the same in the pros. In college sports, you just spend so much time with these guys — through the recruiting process, through their academic experience, through their football experience. With the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and everything from girlfriends breaking up with them, to divorces, to deaths — you really experience it all. "I know there are a lot of programs out there that run football factories," he added. "We don't. We run a family relationship-based organization. So, it means more. … These are real significant re- lationships, and I don't try to fake that. They know how much I care about them." — Matt Herb PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL