The Athletic has published their first 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
There is no debating Sam Hartman’s experience level — he made his first college start for Wake Forest back on Aug. 30, 2018, and he held the Demon Deacons’ No. 1 job for 35 games over the 2020-22 seasons. It’s also hard to ignore Hartman’s level of production. With 251 yards (and four touchdowns) in a 42-3 Notre Dame win over Navy on Saturday, Hartman’s first start after transferring to South Bend, he sits 18th on college football’s career passing list and needs just 861 more yards to climb into the top 10.
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But what does the 24-year-old QB bring to the table as a potential NFL Draft prospect? That’s the question scouts will be asking this season.
GO DEEPER
NFL Draft 2024 Big Board: Dane Brugler's top 50 rankings for the upcoming season
Reactions to Hartman’s Notre Dame debut
Dane Brugler: Hartman lighting up the Navy defense won’t move the needle with NFL scouts, but it was encouraging to see his hot start with the Irish and comfort level outside of Wake Forest’s slow-mesh scheme. He has terrific intangibles, toughness and touch (like a great feel for his jump shot) — all things that were on display Saturday.
However, Hartman had mostly late-round grades from NFL scouts after last season because of average tools and inconsistent decision-making. How he negotiates pressure and moves the Notre Dame offense against tougher opponents on the schedule ultimately will be what determines his 2024 draft grade.
His matchup against Ohio State in a few weeks, for example, will carry a lot of weight with NFL teams. But his first Notre Dame start should generate plenty of optimism.
Hartman makes it happen
Another TD for @jadengreat1 #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/MUgqBjvrZR
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 26, 2023
Diante Lee: Hartman’s experience, poise and touch led the way for Notre Dame’s offense Saturday. Much has been made of the offense in which Hartman played for five years at Wake Forest, but that scheme was instrumental in developing how Hartman identifies one-on-one coverage and places the ball accurately against tight coverage. He was patient in the pocket as Navy sent pressure, and he punished the Midshipmen, both downfield and with quick, decisive throws
I had Hartman graded as a third- or fourth-round prospect heading into the season, and his strong showing in the opener only solidifies his spot.
Nick Baumgardner: Had Hartman declared for the 2023 draft, I’m not certain he’d have been selected. It’s possible, sure, but he likely would have been a toss-up pick somewhere toward the back of Day 3. By that point, you’re scrapping in a camp on a team that has no plan for you. Why the doubts over his NFL future? Largely because he played forever in a gimmicky Wake Forest offense that asked the quarterback to make awkward reads — with awkward footwork — from the slow-mesh.
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This fit at Notre Dame, though, could be a real big deal — for Hartman’s NFL future and the playoff hopes of Marcus Freeman’s team. In his first start for the Irish, Hartman looked fine working and making reads from under center in a much more NFL-style offense (albeit with one early miss he’d probably like to have back).
He’s a smart player. He responds well against pressure. He understands the value of hitting singles — rather than forcing throws in hopes of a home run — and building a drive. All of this will get harder, but Hartman’s transfer could make the difference down the road between him landing in a tough situation as an undrafted free agent and being a high-floor backup on an NFL team.
How does he stack up in the 2024 QB class?
Brugler placed Hartman No. 11 among all senior quarterbacks in his preseason rankings. In addition, five underclassmen quarterbacks — Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Quinn Ewers and Riley Leonard — cracked Dane’s initial top-50 draft board.
Top-ranked senior QBs
Player | School | Ht, Wt |
---|---|---|
1. Bo Nix | 6-2, 225 | |
2. Jordan Travis | 6-1, 202 | |
3. Michael Penix Jr. | 6-3, 221 | |
4. Jayden Daniels | 6-3, 205 | |
5. Joe Milton III | 6-5, 236 | |
6. Austin Reed | 6-1, 222 | |
7. Michael Pratt | 6-3, 219 | |
8. Spencer Rattler | 6-0, 216 | |
9. Devin Leary | 6-1, 217 | |
10. KJ Jefferson | 6-3, 252 | |
11. Sam Hartman | 6-1, 210 |
Again, the big question will be: How much ground can Hartman make up when he’s already put so much on tape?
After another tuneup game next week against Tennessee State, Notre Dame will visit NC State to face a Wolfpack team that knocked off Hartman and Wake Forest two of the past three years. The aforementioned showdown with Ohio State looms two weeks later (Sept. 23), and the Irish also have huge tests against USC and Clemson on their schedule.
Hartman will have every opportunity to positively shift his draft narrative.
Required reading
(Photo: Brendan Moran / Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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