Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman Borderline NFL Starting QB

That’s the thing that struck me most watching Sam Hartman play quarterback (QB) last season at Wake Forest before transferring to Notre Dame.

He looks like an NFL QB.

What do I mean by that?

Hartman does the things NFL QBs do in terms of his mechanics and he often puts the ball where only his receivers have a chance to catch it.

Not all the time, which is why there is a developmental piece to this puzzle (opposing defenses touched the ball 16x in this five game study).

That’s going to need to be fixed.

NFL footwork

I can’t tell you what a problem this is amongst college QBs – – so many now have what I call a “Playground Drop,” which is just running around and throwing the ball like kids at recess without setting their feet first.

The result is like watching people wearing blindfolds shooting darts.

Hartman, however, consistently sets his feet before throwing and that has him primed to make the jump.

Efficient

This is the part of his game that NFL teams will notice.

It’s his consistent footwork in the pocket that causes him to be…efficient.

Hartman is on point throwing at all three route levels (short, medium and deep).

So many college QBs are efficient short to intermediate, but then they fall off the proverbial wagon when it comes to the deep game.

Not Hartman.

While he’s is not perfect in the deep range, he’s better than most I’ve seen in this next draft class, and that alone solidifies him on an NFL roster next season.

Another thing that strikes me in his college career, each and every season his completion percentage has steadily gotten better:

2018: 55.3%

2019: 56.7%

2020: 58.2%

2021: 58.9%

2022: 63.1%

Personality

Hartman also seems to have a very steady demeanor without a bunch of highs and lows.

He pretty much looks the same on film game in and game out, with the exception of the Louisville game, where he crashed and burned with three strip sack fumbles, and three interceptions.

Outside of that, he’s a “steady Eddie.”

Comp?

I get strong Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold vibes watching Hartman. Mayfield of course is the former No. 1 pick overall of the Browns in 2018, and he’s since bounced around as a QB. He’s now on his fourth team with the Buccaneers. Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 with the Jets, now this QB is on his third team with the 49ers.

Both Mayfield and Darnold have settled into borderline starter types.

I see the same thing with Hartman when I look into my scouting crystal ball.

He’s never quite what you want in a starter, but he hangs around the league for ten years.

#10 Sam Hartman 6-foot-1, 210 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Spring 2023 Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 0.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 20, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed (Wake Forest jersey No. 10): Clemson, FSU, Louisville, Boston College, and Duke (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 270/428 (63.1%), 3701 yards, 38TD, 12 INT, 34 sacks, long-68

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Efficient pro-style pure pocket passer with very average mobility. Air of maturity. Good and relative quick decision making. Decisive. Good play action and ball handling. Downfield minded. Bounces around going through his progressions. Pats the ball pre-delivery, but does set his feet before throwing. Strong enough arm. Makes some NFL “wow” looking passes. Poised, but lacks escape when the pocket collapsing. High level ball placement (back shoulder and designed deep under throws). Aggressively stretches the field. Only runs when he has to. Takes what defenses give him.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Ball security?

2. Cut down on sacks and yardage loses?

3. Pat-ball prior to delivery?

4. Continued increase in completion percentage?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.