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Former Notre Dame record setter to make NFL debut following injury to Washington Commanders QB

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ryan Roberts | Last updated Sep 7, 2024 5:48 PM ET

After competing for a backup quarterback job with the Washington Commanders this offseason, former Wake Forest and Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman was waived and signed to the practice squad. That means that the Commanders were choosing to carry three quarterbacks.

One of which was former LSU signal caller Jayden Daniels, who was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Behind Daniels, Washington chose to carry veterans Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel. While Hartman wasn’t able to beat either out, he did claim a spot with the organization on the practice squad.

On Saturday, ESPN Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Mariota was going to be placed on the injured reserve. With that spot open, Washington posted to sign Hartman from the practice squad for their matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

It was a prolific college career for Hartman, who spent five seasons as a part of the Wake Forest program. During that time with the Demon Deacons, Hartman threw for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns. He also added another 17 rushing scores on the ground.

Obviously a lot was expected of Hartman when he transferred to Notre Dame for his final year. During that 2023 season, Hartman would throw for 2,689 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also adding another three rushing scores. While it was solid production, the Hartman hype did not quite live up to the high expectations.

He left college football as one of the most prolific passers in college football history. When you talk about maximizing talent, Hartman is the perfect example. He got absolutely everything he could out of his physical skill set.

Despite an opportunity to impress at both the Reese’s Senior Bowl and 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, Hartman didn’t do enough to hear his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft. He now gets his first opportunity to suit up in an NFL uniform this weekend after a long journey.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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