Sam Hartman NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Notre Dame QB
BR NFL Scouting DepartmentContributor I
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
HEIGHT: 6’1″
WEIGHT: 211
HAND: 9¾”
ARM: 31⅜”
WINGSPAN: 75¼”
40-YARD DASH: 4.8
3-CONE: 7.19
SHUTTLE: 4.34
VERTICAL: 28.5″
BROAD: 9’1″
POSITIVES
— Above-average pocket toughness. Willing to hang in there and move around as necessary.
— Accurate thrower in rhythm to all three levels. Can lead receivers effectively in those instances.
— Functional and methodical processor when kept clean. Cycles through his read efficiently without guesswork or jamming in bad throws.
NEGATIVES
— Poor arm strength. Struggles to add velocity and tighten the arc of the ball. Too much air under many of his throws.
— Below-average athlete. Lack of explosive ability will get him caught in and around the pocket more often in the NFL.
— Struggles when pass-rushers crowd his throwing space. Loses too much velocity when trying to throw; too slow as an athlete to move away from them.
— Accuracy to all levels dramatically falls off without a clean throwing area and base.
2023 STATISTICS
— 12 GM, 191-301 (63.5%), 2,689 YDS (8.9 AVG), 24 TD, 8 INT; 45 ATT, 123 YDS (2.7 AVG), 3 TD
NOTES
— Born July 29, 1999
— 3-star recruit in Wake Forest’s 2018 class, per 247Sports
— Transferred to Notre Dame in 2023
— 57 career starts
— 2021 second-team All-ACC
— Attended 2024 Senior Bowl
OVERALL
Sam Hartman is a run-of-the-mill pocket passer with solid processing ability and lackluster talent.
Hartman spent most of his career in Wake Forest’s nonsense “slow mesh” offense, which is a variation on all of the RPO offenses that litter college football. Though it taught Hartman little in terms of real NFL processing, it did force him to become used to taking hits and to be quick on the draw. Both of those traits showed up well for Hartman in a more normal environment at Notre Dame.
Similarly, Hartman throws well in rhythm, both with and without the help of RPOs. He does well to place timing routes in front of receivers for yards after the catch, and he throws deep balls with good touch.
Hartman badly lacks the traits to be a serious NFL starter, though. He struggles to get velocity from clean pockets, let alone when his throwing area is crowded. Hartman also loses a lot of accuracy when his throwing platform is disturbed.
There isn’t much to Hartman as an athlete, either. He’s not bad once he gets to stride out, but he lacks the explosiveness to quickly leave the pocket. Hartman will not be useful in the run game and will rarely escape sacks in the NFL.
Hartman has a path to adequate spot-starter play behind a quality offensive line and with the help of RPOs. However, Hartman’s game is not conducive to tight NFL pockets. His arm strength will require him to play with perfect decision-making and timing in the league, which is hard to expect of any player.
GRADE: 5.1 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential — 6th/7th Round)
OVERALL RANK: 263
POSITION RANK: QB11
PRO COMPARISON: Bailey Zappe
