Sam Hartman connects with Jaden Greathouse for first Notre Dame touchdown

The Sam Hartman era is officially underway in South Bend. He threw his first touchdown at Notre Dame on Saturday, connecting with true freshman Jaden Greathouse.

With 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Hartman found Greathouse in a tight window for the 35-yard touchdown. It was not only the first reception of Greathouse’s career, but also his first touchdown in a Fighting Irish uniform.

And for Notre Dame fans, it was just a glimpse of what could be a special connection this year.

Notre Dame used the running game to get out to a hot start against Navy. Audric Estime ran in the game’s first touchdown and Jadarian Pryce took in another one to put the Fighting Irish out in front 14-0. Greathouse’s touchdown reception made it a three-score game as Navy’s triple-option offense continued to struggle against Al Golden’s defense.

Greathouse generated some buzz during spring practice and training camp. He arrived on campus as a four-star recruit, the No. 158-ranked player in the nation and the No. 25-ranked wide receiver from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Greathouse was one of the receivers head coach Marcus Freeman pointed to as young players who could step up to help the Notre Dame offense this season. He certainly did that in the early going against Navy.

“You’ve got to expect to see Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores both play for us this year,” Marcus Freeman said. “I don’t consider Tobias [Merriweather] a young guy anymore, even though he’s only going into his second year, but those two young guys I would see having to help us immediately. They’ve shown the ability to do so in practice.”

Marcus Freeman: Sam Hartman has ‘exceeded everything’ he expected

The hype has been building all offseason for Hartman — the ACC’s all-time leading touchdown passer — to take over the Notre Dame offense. For Freeman, Hartman blew away all expectations he had for him.

“He’s exceeded everything, I’ve thought,” Freeman told Zora Stephenson on the NBC broadcast just prior to kickoff against Navy. “He’s been unbelievable leader, unbelievable teammate. I’m really happy for him to go out here and compete today.”

Hartman looked the part in the early going against the Midshipmen, completing eight of his first 10 passes for 133 yards and that touchdown pass to Greathouse in the first half of Saturday’s opener in Ireland.