Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman signs with Washington Commanders
Sam Hartman spent his final collegiate season at Notre Dame with one major goal in mind — getting to the NFL. Saturday, his dream became reality.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Hartman is signing with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent. He’ll join his 2023 teammate Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the nation’s capital.
The Commanders selected LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
It wasn’t always easy for Hartman in his lone season with the Fighting Irish. In nine wins, Hartman was 139-of-208 (66.8 percent) for 2,114 yards with 21 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. In three losses to Ohio State, Louisville and Clemson, Hartman was 52-of-93 (55.9 percent) for 575 yards with 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
In total, Hartman went 191-of-301 (63.5 percent) for 2,689 yards with 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions at Notre Dame. He added 3 scores on the ground. Those statistics only tell a small part of his story. Yes, his lasting image in college football will always be one in a Notre Dame uniform. But most of his accolades, of which he has plenty, came in Wake Forest threads.
The 24-year-old North Carolina native was 944-for-1,597 (59.1 percent) for 12,967 yards with 110 touchdown passes and 41 interceptions in five seasons with the Demon Deacons.
Hartman finished his career ranked fifth all-time in NCAA history in passing yards with 15,656 and tied for third with Texas Tech legend Graham Harrell in all-time in touchdown passes with 134.
He overcame a lot of health issues to get there, including a leg injury that led to the loss of his starting status at the end of his freshman season and for most of his sophomore year. He had a blood clot that forced him to have a rib removed before his fifth season in Winston-Salem.
Hartman is healthy and confident heading into the start of his professional career. He felt good about what he put on tape at Notre Dame’s Pro Day in late March when he threw passes to current Fighting Irish wide receivers Jaden Greathouse, Jayden Harrison and Jayden Thomas.
“I thought I did a good job,” Hartman said. “I wanted to show some drive. I wanted to show I could spin the ball at a high rate, really let some of the deeper balls go. That was the plan to try to execute. Throw off different platform and be really proficient throughout it. And I would just say let it rip. Sometimes you get out there and guide it and try to be perfect but I just wanted to throw it as hard as I can and as far as I can and see where it lands for me.”
Hartman did that the best at Wake Forest. There were speed bumps at Notre Dame, but he always contended he wouldn’t change anything about his 2024 campaign.
He arrives in the NFL as a Blue and Gold lifer.
“The football culture here, I hope it never changes,” Hartman said after Notre Dame’s win over USC on Oct. 14. “I hope I can — if I’m blessed to have kids — bring them back and they can play a highlight. It probably won’t be as cool as Joe Montana. I met Joe Montana today. That was pretty sweet. USC victory, Joe Montana. I think that is something I can cherish for the rest of my life.”
