Notre Dame’s starting quarterback for 2023 is graduate transfer and NFL Draft prospect Sam Hartman. Before the Fighting Irish, the quarterback committed to Wake Forest. He spent five years at Wake Forest before entering the 2023 transfer portal.
Sam Hartman’s College Career
In his five years at Wake Forest, Hartman passed for 12,967 yards, 110 touchdowns, and 41 interceptions. He played nine or more games every season with Wake Forest except for 2019, when he lost the starting job to Jamie Newman following a late season-ending injury. He only appeared in four games in 2019.
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Hartman set numerous records at Wake Forest, currently holding the second position on the ACC passing yards list and leading the conference in touchdown passes.
Only six games into the season, Hartman and Notre Dame already have two losses and are presumably out of the College Football Playoff race as they face USC on Oct. 14.
So far, he has passed for 1,712 yards, 16 touchdowns, and three interceptions and is currently a name in the Heisman race.
Sam Hartman answers right back 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ThmmQ0FjX7
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 8, 2023
What Is Hartman Studying at Notre Dame?
At Notre Dame, Hartman is a non-degree-seeking student majoring in communications with a minor in Journalism. His workload hasn’t been too stressful this season, although he did apologize to one of his professors in the media in case his exam earlier in the day didn’t go as well as hoped.
The 24-year-old grew up in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, attending Oceanside Collegiate Academy. He had spent most of his career only hours from his family while at Wake Forest.
This has led to him being a little homesick. Hartman said of the decision to transfer, “That’s probably the biggest difference … I haven’t seen my folks.”
Before his final season with the Demon Deacons, Hartman was sidelined on Aug. 10 with a non-football-related medical condition. He was ultimately medically cleared to return to competition and started the season on Sept. 10, 2022.
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He made his decision to transfer on Dec. 27, 2022, and he committed to the Fighting Irish on Jan. 6, 2023.
His hope at Notre Dame is to prove to NFL scouts that he isn’t merely a product of the system at Wake Forest and that he can be successful at the next level.