Sam Hartman Transfers to Notre Dame After 5 Seasons as Wake Forest QB
Jan 5, 2023
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 23: Sam Hartman #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons reacts after defeating the Missouri Tigers 27-17 in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on December 23, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Former Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman announced Thursday that he is transferring to Notre Dame ahead of the 2023 season, his final year of college eligibility.
Hartman was expected to commit to the Fighting Irish since entering the transfer portal on Dec. 27, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Hartman spent the first five seasons of his college career at Wake Forest; he redshirted in 2019 and gained an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2022 campaign, he completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 12 games, in addition to rushing for 129 yards and one score.
As a starter at Wake Forest, Hartman went 27-18. His best season came in 2021 when he led the Demon Deacons to an 11-3 record, tying Wake Forest's record for wins in a season. He completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 4,228 yards and 39 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in 14 games, in addition to rushing for 364 yards and 11 scores.
The 23-year-old is the ACC's leader with 110 touchdown passes and is second in conference history with 12,967 passing yards. Only former NC State signal-caller Philip Rivers has more passing yards (13,484 in four seasons).
Notre Dame was in need of a starting quarterback entering the 2023 season after Drew Pyne announced that he was transferring to Arizona State. Tyler Buchner is still on the roster, though he isn't as proven as Hartman, who can come in and immediately help the Fighting Irish offense.
Hartman was projected to be a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but now he can work on improving his stock by remaining in college for another season.
Notre Dame finished the 2022 season with a 9-4 record, including a win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Gator Bowl.
The Fighting Irish have some tough matchups on tap for 2023, including meetings with Ohio State, USC and Clemson. They'll meet Hartman's former team, Wake Forest, on Oct. 28 in South Bend.
Tyler Buchner Has CFB Twitter Abuzz as Notre Dame Beats South Carolina in Gator Bowl
Dec 31, 2022
Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) throws a pass during the second quarter of the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
It wasn't always pretty. Going nearly four months between games will cause some rust. But when Notre Dame needed quarterback Tyler Buchner to step up, he did just that.
The sophomore quarterback threw for 274 yards and three scores and added 61 rushing yards for another two touchdowns in Notre Dame's 45-38 shootout win over South Carolina in Friday's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field.
But no, Buchner didn't make it easy. He threw three interceptions, and two of them were returned for touchdowns. He only completed 18 of 33 passes. He dug Notre Dame a hole in the first quarter, as his first pick-six gave the Gamecocks a 21-7 lead.
And with Notre Dame driving down the field in the fourth quarter, in the red zone with a chance to go up two touchdowns, Buchner threw his second pick-six, tying the game.
What about a tip of the hat to Tyler Buchner of @NDFootball as he hasn’t played in months but he has shown so much courage . Has taken numerous hits but bounces right backup . Just tied up game at 31 with 44 yard strike . Defense in 4th will decide game btw ND @GamecockFB
For those trashing tf out of Buchner. He was a first time starter that hasn't played since he was injured in week 2. He ain't going to be junior year Clausen. Maybe chill out or take this game off.
Funky play. Didn't look right from the start. Tyler Buchner throws this second pick-six of the game and South Carolina ties it up. Irish could have put it away.
Tyler Buchner just never saw the linebacker. Throwing over the middle was a bad idea there too. South Carolina was gassed and couldn’t stop the run at all.
Again, context is key. Buchner hadn't played since Sept. 10 after suffering a shoulder strain. He was only making the third start of his career. It's just as fair to question some of the play-calling on his interceptions—given how well the Fighting Irish ran the ball—as it's fair to call out his own decision-making.
Oh, and he did still throw the game-winning touchdown.
And luckily for Buchner, he wasn't on an island. The running back duo of Audric Estime (95 rushing yards) and Logan Diggs (170 yards from scrimmage, two scores) gashed the Gamecocks (8-5) all night long.
That, in turn, kept the ball out of Spencer Rattler's hands (29-of-46 for 246 yards, two touchdowns and an interception) for long stretches, a key factor for a Notre Dame defense that struggled to slow him down.
Buchner will want some throws back, no doubt. But he still got the win in the end, he accounted for five total touchdowns. And Notre Dame (9-4) finished an otherwise disappointing season on a high note.
During the opening month of the 2022 season, it seemed like Notre Dame might be headed for a disastrous year. However, the Fighting Irish recovered well under...
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 10: Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey (7) tackles Marshall Thundering Herd running back Khalan Laborn (8) in action during a game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 10, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 264
HAND: 9 7/8"
ARM: 34"
WINGSPAN: 81 5/8"
40-YARD DASH: 4.58
3-CONE: 7.28
SHUTTLE: 4.41
VERTICAL: 34"
BROAD: 10'5"
POSITIVES
— Physical at the point of attack and takes on blocks with good leverage out of a two-point stance to help set the edge.
— Solid strength to win as a power rusher with a one-arm stab move or a bull rush, and he's shown a nice rip move as a counter off of the bull rush that he can win with if he starts working to get on an edge.
— Does a good job of working offensive lineman's hands as a pass-rusher.
— Has plenty of athletic ability to develop finesse moves down the line and has shown flashes of winning with a cross chop, hand swipe and ghost rush.
— Impressive agility to avoid losing ground as the looper in line games.
— Swipes at the ball and has a knack for getting strip sacks.
— Very instinctual against the run and can be hard to reach with his combination of agility and block recognition out of a two-point stance.
— Strong enough to get extension and hold ground against tackles.
— Hustle player who will factor into gang tackles down the field and get coverage sacks.
NEGATIVES
— Slow run-pass transitions against play-action.
— Doesn't have a go-to pass rush move that can win with at the moment and doesn't have the speed off the ball to challenge offensive tackles vertically.
— Could make better use of the stem phase of a pass rush by getting upfield initially to give himself a two-way go and keep the tackle guessing.
— Adequate bend to turn tight corners and take an efficient path to the quarterback but lacks ankle flexibility.
— Needs to start working to get on an edge when bull-rushing.
— More passive against the run when working out of a three-point stance. Likes to stand up and see what the offensive line is doing instead of attacking and reacting.
— Lacks violence when trying to disengage and get off blocks and lets offensive linemen hang onto him.
— Not a forceful tackler and will lose ground after contact from physical running backs.
Isaiah Foskey is an interesting projection because he has plenty of traits with his size, strength and athleticism, and he's been productive, surpassing several notable Notre Dame defensive linemen like Justin Tuck and Bryant Young in the school's record books. Typically, that'd make for a slam-dunk top-10 pick.
However, a lot of Foskey's sacks have come when he's either unblocked, is cleaning up from another pass-rusher winning or as coverage sacks, especially this past year. His impressive rushes have come in flashes versus being something he can consistently win with at the next level, and his stiff ankles are concerning for an edge-rusher.
That being said, if the Golden Domer tests well at the combine to confirm his athletic potential, he's a good enough power rusher and can develop a wider pass-rush arsenal down the road to still be a first-round pick. He might just have to wait a little longer to hear his name called on Day 1.
Against the run, there's a lot to like about Foskey's game. He's physical and strong to set the edge and hold ground against offensive tackles, and his instincts are impressive out of a two-point stance. The biggest issue is that he can look like almost a completely different player with his hand in the ground, which could limit his scheme fit.
Foskey is much better from a standup linebacker position. When he is in a three-point stance, it's almost like his natural inclination is to play from a two-point because he stands up and tries to see what's going on, essentially getting to a two-point stance post-snap. So, he'd be best as an outside backer for a team that uses odd fronts.
Notre Dame would occasionally drop him in coverage, so he has experience covering running backs, tight ends and the underneath zones to go along with the athleticism to carry that part of his game over to the NFL. He might not be "off the board" for even front teams, but he'll need the freedom to play from that standup position.
ESPN: Notre Dame Eyes Sam Hartman Transfer After QB Set ACC TD Record at Wake Forest
Dec 27, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 23: Sam Hartman #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons looks to throw a pass in the first quarter against the Missouri Tigers during the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on December 23, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Notre Dame could end up with Sam Hartman after starting quarterback Drew Pyne announced his intention to transfer to Arizona State.
Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Hartman intends to enter the transfer portal with the Fighting Irish considered a "strong favorite" to land the former Wake Forest star who holds the ACC record with 110 career touchdown passes.
The report that Hartman will leave Wake Forest comes four days after he led the team to a 27-17 victory over Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl. He went 23-of-36 for 280 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the game.
His first touchdown pass to Taylor Morin broke former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd's conference record of 107 set in 2013.
Hartman is a development success story for the Demon Deacons. He was a 3-star prospect, committed to the program as part of the 2018 class and won the starting job as a true freshman.
After an injury limited him to four games as a sophomore, Hartman returned to the starting lineup in 2020. He has been one of the best quarterbacks in the conference over the past two seasons, completing 60.7 percent of his attempts with 7,929 yards and 77 touchdowns since the start of 2021.
Hartman has one more year of college eligibility remaining. Thamel noted he is "seeking a high-end situation" to prevent him from declaring for the 2023 NFL draft, and he will "take a week" to evaluate all of his options before making a decision.
Notre Dame has all the makings of a College Football Playoff contender next year. Head coach Marcus Freeman rallied his team after a rough start this season to finish 8-4, highlighted by a 35-14 win over Clemson on Nov. 5.
If the Fighting Irish are able to land a quarterback of Hartman's caliber, they will likely enter 2023 as a favorite to win the national championship.
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Michael Mayer Declares for 2023 NFL Draft, Will Skip Notre Dame's Bowl Game
Dec 7, 2022
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer (87) reacts with frustration after an offensive play during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus Navy Midshipmen game on November 12, 2022 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer has declared for the 2023 NFL draft and will not play in the Gator Bowl against South Carolina.
Mayer told Pete Thamel of ESPN about his decision to go pro.
The junior finished the 2022 season with 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns. His 180 career receptions are the most all-time for a Fighting Irish tight end after Mayer surpassed Tyler Eifert this year.
Met @MMayer1001 back in the day. By the size of that neck as a sophomore I knew he was going to break all my records! Tried to give him professional advice to sit out this year, he didn’t listen. 😂📈 #GOIRISHpic.twitter.com/e5TdQUdBUN
Eifert had high praise for Mayer in an interview with The Athletic's Pete Sampson, comparing him to NFL great Rob Gronkowski:
"It's obviously a pretty crazy comparison, but he just reminds me of Gronk in a lot of ways. If you watch Gronk, he actually doesn't run very good routes, at all. But he just knows how to use his body. Some guys try to create separation at the top of the route by running away or putting like some juke or head fake or something. But the bigger tight ends, they want you to be close to them so they can use their body to create separation. And I think Mike does a really good job of that. For how big he is, he can also go up and get the ball and make those really tough contested catches, too."
Like Gronkowski, Mayer will be difficult to cover thanks to his physical attributes. At 6'4" and 265 pounds, he's too big for cornerbacks, and he has the speed to outrun linebackers.
Mayer is not only the best tight end on Bleacher Report's 2023 big board, but he is also the No. 5 player overall with an 8.8 grade. Projecting him to land 16th overall with the Cincinnati Bengals, Derrik Klassen described him as "a tank with the ball in his hand."
"He doesn't have terrifying speed, but his balance of agility, balance, and strength at that size is elite," he wrote.
It's tough to compare any college tight end to Gronkowski because the four-time Super Bowl winner was arguably the most dominant player ever at the position, but you can see why Eifert drew the parallel with Mayer.
Notre Dame finished the season strong and left you wondering what might have been if the Fighting Irish hadn't fallen apart against Marshall and Stanford. You wouldn't blame Mayer for feeling like he had unfinished business in South Bend.
Given how highly he's rated, though, suiting up for the Fighting Irish in 2023 wouldn't have done much for his NFL draft stock. Declaring now was probably an easy call.
Notre Dame Starting QB Drew Pyne Reportedly Intends to Enter NCAA Transfer Portal
Dec 2, 2022
Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will reportedly have an opening at quarterback in 2023, as this year's starter Drew Pyne is set to part ways with the team.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Pyne intends to enter the transfer portal and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Pyne started 10 games this season for the 8-4 Fighting Irish, leading the team to an 8-2 record. His 4-1 record against Top 25 teams was the best by a Notre Dame quarterback in the last 10 years, per Thamel.
Notre Dame inserted Pyne as the starter following the team's upset loss to Marshall. He immediately provided a spark and threw for 2,021 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 64.6 percent of his passes and ranking 20th in the nation in individual quarterback efficiency.
If Pyne's last appearance in a Fighting Irish uniform was an audition for other schools, he will undoubtedly have a long list of suitors. He went 23-of-26 for 318 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a 38-27 loss to USC last Saturday. According to Thamel, Pyne's "decisiveness in the pocket stood out to opposing coaches, as they characterized him as a quick-twitch thrower."
Pyne was a 4-star recruit in the class of 2020 coming out of New Canaan High School in Connecticut, per 247Sports' composite. He chose Notre Dame over offers from Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma and Auburn, among others.
With Pyne unlikely to play in Notre Dame's upcoming bowl game, it can be expected that the team will turn back to sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner, who threw for 378 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in his two starts this season.
