Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman has made the decision to opt out of the upcoming Sun Bowl and shift his focus towards preparing for the NFL draft. This choice was confirmed by a team spokeswoman following Hartman’s heartfelt Instagram video in which he shared his college football journey, originating at Wake Forest.
In his Instagram post, Hartman expressed his deep connection to college football, acknowledging how it has been his world for as long as he can remember. He reminisced about the dreams of playing in big games, entering the field to the cheers of thousands of fans, and the valuable lessons he learned through the ups and downs of his football career.
While he acknowledged that his football journey is not yet over, Hartman conveyed his gratitude to college football for the memories and experiences it has provided him. He thanked the sport for allowing him to persevere and grow, cherishing the camaraderie with his teammates and mentors.
As Hartman takes this step towards the NFL, backup quarterback Steve Angeli, a second-year player, will take the reins for No. 16 Notre Dame as they face No. 19 Oregon State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on December 29 in El Paso, Texas. Angeli has already shown promise, accumulating 272 passing yards and four touchdowns with one interception in five games this season.
During his lone season at Notre Dame, Hartman made a significant impact, amassing 2,689 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His college career as a whole is impressive, with a total of 15,656 passing yards, 134 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions.
Notably, Hartman set the ACC career touchdown passes record during his time at Wake Forest with 110 touchdowns, a remarkable achievement that places him fourth on the FBS career list. In recognition of his talent and contributions, he earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2022 and was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award this year.