What gives KeAndre Lambert-Smith excitement about the Auburn offense? 'I would say Payton Thorne'

Former Penn State, now Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith recently joined the BLEAV podcast to talk about everything Auburn: his decision, the offense, the receiver group, who he is close with on the team, and much more.

Lambert-Smith went in-depth with former Auburn quarterback, now General Manager of NIL for On To Victory, Jason Campbell and ESPN reporter Taylor Davis.

Why Auburn?

TAYLOR DAVIS: Talk us through your journey, your decision, and how you ended up on the plains.

LAMBERT-SMITH: “Like you said, I spent four years at Penn State, graduated from there, got my degree. I think it is time for a fresh start. You know, as soon as I hit the portal, I would say Coach (Marcus) Davis played probably the biggest part in me coming to Auburn. He probably was the first coach I got on FaceTime with. Honestly, it was like an instant connection. He seemed real and genuine and this was all through a FaceTime call. He was saying, ‘Just come up here, big dog.'” So, when I took the visit up here, it was my first visit out of the portal. I went to A&M next, but I knew I wasn’t going to take too many more after that because of the feeling I got at Auburn. The need, the way we just hit it off, Coach (Hugh) Freeze, and the whole staff–I feel like I didn’t need to look much further. I also just wanted to make a decision so I could get to campus and get rolling with the playbook and getting to know the guys. It wasn’t that hard of a decision once I made my way down here.”

What is Auburn getting in Lambert-Smith?

TAYLOR DAVIS: The need for offensive improvement, we knew it last season. Whether it is offensive line, quarterback, wide receiver, it would have to improve and take a step forward. You’re part of a receiving corps that people are really excited about. You were consistent at Penn State, led them with 53 receptions, 673 yards, and 4 touchdowns last season. So, what kind of player is Auburn getting in you?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “I will tell you what I keep telling everybody. I feel like I haven’t put my full display on what I can do in the last four years at Penn State. I’m not trying to discredit them or anything that happened in the past, but I felt I wasn’t able to show the type of player I can really be and be a real vertical threat. Really stretching the defense, making plays in the slot, outside, everywhere. That’s kind of what I’m used to doing. Even at quarterback, I had like three pass attempts in my career. I feel like I can do a variety of things. I know I’m like an older guy and we’ve got young guys, we’ve got Rob (Robert Lewis). Just being one of the go-to guys that can help take this offense to the next level. Ultimately I will just do whatever the offense needs me to do. If it is a ten catch game or a two catch game, whether we run the ball a lot and I am blocking, I did a lot of that at Penn State. I’m used to just doing it all. I’m ready for the season just like you, I’m not going to lie.”

Already bonding with several teammates

JASON CAMPBELL: Who are some of the guys, when you first got here, that you instantly hit it off with in the locker room? When you got here, they just embraced you, accepted you, and started showing you the ropes. Who were some of those guys?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “When I first got here, a lot of the guys were on break. The first receiver I met was Caleb (Burton), so we were hanging out a lot. Then, Cam (Coleman), he doesn’t live too far from here. When he found out I was here, he came back and we hit the jugs four nights in a row. We were chatting, went out to eat, so I feel like I built a relationship with those two guys early. As soon as all the guys got here, I introduced myself to the room, we went bowling. I’m a shy dude, but when it comes to the guys in the room, I build instant connections. I played the game with Sam (Jackson), I hit it off with Greg (McConico), so all the guys in the room, we’re pretty tight already. Even moreso, on the defense side, I lift with Caleb (Wooden), we go at it. Champ (Anthony), (Eugene) Asante, we were at Chipotle. Like I say, I’m going to try to speak to you and get that connection going because I know I’m the new guy on campus. I would say those guys I named off the top of my head.”

TAYLOR DAVIS: What were your first impressions of the football facility?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “It’s amazing, I’m not going to lie. Now, when I say this, I am not trying to discredit my old spot. When I first got here, they showed me three locker rooms.. I’m like, ‘there’s three locker rooms?’ There’s a different one for practice, one to go chill in and relax, then the gameday locker room. It was nice. I saw my picture up there, I’m not going to lie, I was chilling. It’s beautiful, really up-to-date.”

NFL bloodline

TAYLOR DAVIS: Jason alluded to it earlier, Kam Chancellor, your uncle, had the NFL career and Virginia Tech career to help lay a foundation for you. What did you take from being around the game at such a high level? What lessons did you take from his experience?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “One that I didn’t even realize when I was younger was seeing his discipline and the way he carried himself. When I was younger, I used to think, ‘He’s acting different,’ he wasn’t eating certain things anymore. Say I would stay in his condo one night, he was up at like four in the morning working out, then eating a certain type of breakfast. I went to Seattle one time, he took us out. We were going to the movies and he said we were going to leave at 6. My cousin got down there at 6:01, he (Chancellor) was gone already. He said he gave us a time and we didn’t meet that time. As I get older, I have started to see that time matters. When you say something, you stick to that. I think we worked out everyday, running up hills, doing pushups. It just showed how detailed he was throughout his day, how time-regimented he was. I think that is the biggest lesson I took from him.”

The receiver room/the offense

JASON CAMPBELL: When you look at the receiver room, you have the weapons. You have the “Freeze 4,” the younger guys. Then you got older guys, you and Robert–and Jackson that came over from Cal. What are the goals that you guys have in the receiver room as a unit?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “A big thing we’re emphasizing is being the best group in the country. I know we can be the best group in the country and the best group on the team. We have great backs, good quarterback, good tight ends, we have defense, but we can be the best group on the team. We feel like that would be what takes us to the next level. Any team that goes to the national championship or makes a run in the playoffs has guys on the outside. Playmakers that can go up and get it, win 50/50 balls, get the ball out quick and they take it for 60 yards. I feel like if you have that group at a high level with confidence and swagger, then the team can go as far as the receivers can go. Coach Davis holds us to that standard. If anything is off, Coach Davis–he’s not having a bad day, but he’s going to hold us accountable. We want to be the best. We’re not letting things slide. You have to be detailed in everything. That’s how we will be the best group in the country and lead this team to a national championship. We work and compete with each other. That’s one thing that I told them when I first got here, I like to compete, I will push everybody, get the best out of me and y’all. I know that’ how the room is going to become the best.”

TAYLOR DAVIS: What gives you hope and excitement, aside from the receiver group, in terms of offensive scheme, quarterback play–what gives you hope that the passing offense is going to take off this season?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “I would say Payton (Thorne). I kind of block out the noise–I know the media is the media. Just being around Payton, No. 1, Payton came from the BigTen, he beat me at Penn State already. So, just being around him, hearing how he controls the team at the end of a workout, the leadership, I think that gives the offense a sense of confidence right there. That kind of was 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.’ Me, Valdo (Rivaldo Fairweather) you have DA (Damari Alston) out there, a few other receivers, Rob–we’re just getting extra work. I just feel like everybody is practicing with the intent that this narrative is going to change. I haven’t been here, but I hear the same stuff that you guys hear. Just feel that everybody has a chip on their shoulder to really change the narrative. We’ve got the guys to do it–not only at receiver, but at tight end, running back, quarterback–I feel like we have quarterbacks after Payton who can step up and throw really good deep balls and anything. I feel like the offense is–I think I just told somebody, I think it was DA–I haven’t been a part of an offense where I felt like, we got it. I’m so ready for the season, I’m ready for camp. Even in workouts, there are DB’s next to me lifting, I’m like, ‘We’re about the be the best group on the team.. Let’s go!’ I like to bring energy, I like to bring juice.”

Lake Martin

JASON CAMPBELL: Away from football, what are some of the things you’re enjoying so far?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “The No. 1 thing is the lake, Lake Martin. I won’t lie, any lake, but we have been going there the most. I have never been on a lake in general, I think I went up there just chilling with some friends. The second time, we got on a boat. Since the boat ride, (I’m hooked). I met a dude up there, got on his boat, we were doing back flips off of like a rope, we went tubing. It’s a vibe and I didn’t realize that. It also helps me relax, relax your mind. Any free time I get, I’m not staying in Auburn, I’m hopping in the car and going to the lake. It was like my second or third week up here, and I am never jumping off that rock (Chimney Rock) again, I’m scared of heights. I faced my fear, I just jumped. It wasn’t the high one, it was like the baby Chimney Rock.”

Environments in the SEC, Jordan-Hare

TAYLOR DAVIS: The SEC was on your radar it seemed. Now that you’re in it, what games and environments are you most excited to play in?

LAMBERT-SMITH: “With the schedule being changed, a lot of the games that I was looking forward to, LSU, I wanted to play LSU. I don’t think we play Ole Miss. But, I know we play Bama, Georgia, Oklahoma– I feel like that will be a good one. Just in general, SEC, it was always like, who is the best conference? Of course, I was in the Big Ten. Penn State came here to play Auburn, and the environment–it was one of my top games that I played in. I live for exciting games, big time games, hostile crowds, I love that stuff. I feel like every game in the SEC is going to be that way, especially at Jordan-Hare. The orange-outs, I haven’t seen the turn off the light thing yet. I can’t wait to see that, that will give me chills.”