We’ve heard all about the futures of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye et al as we’ve discussed the Commanders’ No. 2 pick possibilities – but what is the draft process like for those whose NFL futures isn’t so certain?
Sam Hartman, who spent last year at Notre Dame after a career at Wake Forest, is No. 11 in PFF’s QB rankings and 194th overall, one QB spot ahead of Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa, and he was also out in Vegas and joined Grant on Radio Row to give a little perspective.
GP first got to see Hartman during season two of “QB1” on Netflix, which profiled Justin Fields as well as Hartman and Re-al Mitchell, and it’s hard to believe that was six years ago.
“That was an incredible experience, and I think they painted me in a really good light. Meeting everyone and being able to work with everyone on that show, some of the shots could have portrayed you in different lights,” Hartman said, “but I got lucky and handled everything the right way, in a sense, and I learned a lot from it. Looking back, it’s funny, I did some things I probably shouldn’t have, but was it was a very cool journey and very humbling.”
Hartman ended up with six years of eligibility thanks the COVID years and redshirts, and went to Notre Dame as a graduate transfer after five years at Wake. It’s a path not unlike many other players these days, especially in basketball – or, in the case of just the QB Class of 2024, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. – and it’s a double-edged sword for many.
“I see both sides. I've seen teammates of mine leave and take off, and for reasons that aren't great, but I've also seen teammates excel,” Hartman said. “Sometimes it's a fit, sometimes it's a scheme and then sometimes it's just an opportunity to go to a different place, a chance to show up and be in the fight. Wake was incredible for five years, and the opportunity to go up and play at Notre Dame at such an iconic university was just something I'll never forget.”
Hartman maybe raised his stock a little bit by doing so, getting a year in a pro-style offense after five at a more ‘unique’ offense at Wake – and it was helpful in the potential transition to the NFL, as well, having had a year to have to learn new things.
But is that wealth of college experience an overall negative?
“I don’t see how; we didn't get hit a lot, and the amount of looks we get to see and experience we got, good and bad, that’s all positive,” Hartman said. “I think that's just a narrative that people like to create because, you know, that's what people do, but I’ve been around all those guys, and I think it’s a huge positive. Look at Brock Purdy, he had a lot of experience, and where is he at? I’ll probably never get it, but there’s a lot to be said from seeing a lot of looks and having that experience.”
And no, just because he’s not one of the ballyhooed doesn’t mean Hartman is down on his draft stock.
“I know where I stand; it’s always motivation to want to be the No. 1 guy, but you know what I look like,” Hartman said. “I’ve played a lot of ball and I have a lot of self-awareness of what I can do on and off the field for an organization. Experience is a huge part of that for me, and I rely on that. I may not be a first or second day pick, hopefully third day for me, but even an undrafted free agent, I know I can make a play and do things. If you told my 12-year-old self I’d been in this spot, I’d say that’s pretty cool.”
