Why did Sam Hartman transfer to Notre Dame from Wake Forest? ACC TD leader looks to lead Irish back to CFP

From the Demon Deacons to the Fighting Irish, Sam Hartman left the ACC for his final season of college eligibility -- although he didn't go far.

The ACC record-holder for career touchdown passes at 110 will not be adding to that mark this year, as he joins Notre Dame for what will be his sixth year in college football.

Hartman preserved a year of eligibility in 2019 by playing in just four games, and the 2020 season didn't take a year from him. Because of that, the 24-year-old QB was able to transfer from Wake Forest to Notre Dame this season in an attempt to make his mark.

Hartman committed to Notre Dame in January, spurning the NFL Draft in favor of one of the largest programs in the country. Notre Dame is coming off a disappointing 9-4 season, and last year's starter Drew Pyne ultimately transferred to Arizona State. Notre Dame last made the College Football Playoffs in 2021, when it lost to Alabama in the Rose Bowl 31-14. Its other CFP appearance was in 2019, when it was blown out by Clemson 30-3.

The Wake Forest barometer for success was a bit different, but Hartman started to gain attention when the Deacons made the ACC Championship Game for the 2021 season. Although Wake lost that game to Pitt 45-21, it was the program's first conference championship appearance since winning the ACC in 2006. 

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The expectations are high for Hartman and the Irish. Quarterback has been a bit tumultuous for Notre Dame in recent years. What will it take for Hartman to level things out?

Why did Sam Hartman transfer to Notre Dame?

Shortly after finalizing his transfer, Hartman had a simple reason for why he left Winston-Salem: NFL QBs don't spend their whole careers in one place, so why should he?

“This is what you have to do when you go into the league, is come into a new place where there’s not a lot of familiar faces,” he said, per The Associated Press.

With that being said, the allure of South Bend definitely had something to do with it. Notre Dame is a prestigious university, and it's showing early.

“It’s different,” he said, per the AP. “It’s special here. There’s a lot of eyes, which is pretty obvious at this point. I think you never really know until you’re out of it what it means to be in this position. Just as much as I can, I’m trying to soak it in. It’s a high-pressure, pivotal season for myself and more than myself -- this team and this university.”

It's clear Hartman knows the stakes. He's trying to get into the NFL when he'll be 25 next season, and he needs to show out at a high level to do it. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is trying to recapture some glory while college football is in a state of upheaval. For the Irish, getting to the playoffs can no longer be enough: They have to prove they belong.

Who is Sam Hartman?

Hartman, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, is entering his sixth year in college football for his final year of eligibility. His 2020 season did not count toward said eligibility and he was a backup for most of the 2019 season, only getting into four games.

Hartman won the Wake Forest starting quarterback job as a freshman in 2018, a year in which he completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 1,984 yards. He was supplanted by Jamie Newman in 2019 before reclaiming the starting job in 2020.

The QB was a three-star recruit in 2017, with just three schools seeking him out: Wake Forest, Charlotte, and Elon University. Hartman ultimately committed to Wake.

He went on to break Clemson alum Tajh Boyd's record for ACC touchdown passes, throwing for 39 in 2021 and 38 in 2022. He left the ACC at an absurd 110 TD passes, a number that was admittedly inflated with what amounted to 13 additional games between 2019 and 2020.

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Sam Hartman stats

Hartman is bringing some serious volume stats to Notre Dame, though he isn't always the most efficient and he's extremely turnover-prone. Hartman has thrown double-digit interceptions in each of the past two seasons to go along with his gaudy TD numbers.

Consistency is going to be the name of the game. Hartman has the ACC record for passing TDs, he's second in ACC history in passing yards behind Philip Rivers, but he's also 15th in ACC history with 41 interceptions. He'll have to reel that in to find sustained success with Notre Dame.

Sam Hartman notable NIL deals

On3 puts Hartman at about $772,000 in NIL endorsements.

Among his NIL deals are Wahl Grooming and Bojangles.

Notre Dame schedule 2023

Notre Dame opens its season in Dublin, Ireland against the Navy Midshipmen before returning stateside to host Tennessee State Sep. 2. Notable games on the schedule include Ohio State Sep. 23, USC Oct. 14, Clemson Nov. 4, and a Hartman revenge game against Wake Forest Nov. 18.

Notre Dame encountered a lot of bumps in coach Marcus Freeman's first year last season. If the Fighting Irish are going to turn things around, it must start with Hartman. If he plays well and protects the ball, the rest should fall into place.