Notre Dame hosting Wake Forest transfer QB Sam Hartman on visit
Notre Dame has taken another step in its pursuit of Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman. This one could be the final push toward landing him.
Hartman is currently at Notre Dame on a visit, per On3’s Pete Nakos. The news was first reported by Irish Illustrated.
Notre Dame has been Hartman’s expected destination since he entered the transfer portal Dec. 27. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the Irish were the favorite the day Hartman’s name appeared in the portal. Monday, he said Hartman could choose Notre Dame by the end of the week, which Nakos confirmed Thursday.
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Hartman is a grad transfer with one year of eligibility left. The 2023 season will be his sixth season of college football. He started 45 games at Wake Forest, with career totals of 12,967 passing yards, 110 touchdowns and 41 interceptions. He set the ACC record for career touchdown passes in his final game, a win over Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl Dec. 23.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Hartman has a career completion rate of 59.1 percent and has averaged 8.1 yards per attempt. He also has 17 rushing career touchdowns, 11 of which came in 2021.
Wake Forest is 18-9 in the last two seasons, with Hartman as a lead actor. He has totaled 7,929 yards, 77 touchdowns and 26 interceptions since the start of 2021.
Notre Dame would have five scholarship quarterbacks if it adds Hartman: rising juniors Tyler Buchner and Ron Powlus III, sophomore-to-be Steve Angeli and incoming freshman Kenny Minchey.
Buchner was named the 2022 starter in August, but missed 10 games with a shoulder injury that required surgery. He returned for the Gator Bowl and threw for 274 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in a 45-38 win over South Carolina. He added 2 rushing scores and 61 yards on the ground. Drew Pyne, who started 10 games in Buchner’s place, entered the transfer portal in December and has since committed to Arizona State.
Notre Dame is also hosting Oklahoma State safety transfer Thomas Harper for a visit. Harper arrived on campus Wednesday and will stay until Friday. He’s a grad transfer with one year to play and started seven games for the Cowboys in 2022.
The Irish have added two scholarship players from the portal so far this offseason: former South Florida kicker Spencer Shrader and ex-Virginia Tech wide receiver Kaleb Smith. Both are grad transfers with one year left to play. Former Penn punter Ben Krimm announced a transfer to Notre Dame last month as a walk-on.
