Sam Hartman admits decision to play another year was 'extremely difficult'

Sam Hartman could have been preparing for his rookie season in the NFL. Instead, he elected to transfer from Wake Forest and find his final collegiate home at Notre Dame.

The new Fighting Irish quarterback revealed what the type of emotional roller coaster returning to college in a new environment has been like over the past few months, and how much respect he has gained for Notre Dame as a program.

“It was extremely difficult. But I mean also, I do believe I wanted to play football again and I made it clear to Wake that I wasn’t going to be back that year to Wake in any real possibility of that happening,” Hartman said Thursday on the Paul Finebaum Show. “So, I don’t think it was anything too much of a surprise to them. But it was more for myself to play the sport I love and have a good opportunity to do that, and prepare for the NFL and also play at Notre Dame.

“I think that kind of sentence explains itself in the history and really the precedence of the golden helmet, the Golden Dome, touchdown Jesus and all the greats that played before me and will play after me. I thought, what an opportunity. What a place to play and what a way to end a very over-overdrawn-out career.”

Hartman finished his tenure with Wake Forest as a 12,000-yard passer through five years with the Demon Deacons. In 2022, he finished first in the ACC in passing touchdowns and second in yards, despite throwing for 800 less than he did the year before.

In 2021, Hartment went on to surpass 4,000 passing yards, which ranked him in the top 10 in the country in that category. Needless to say, acquiring Hartman through the portal is the crowning jewel for Marcus Freeman’s transfer class — they’re gaining a sixth-year senior who has proved himself as consistently one of the top passers in the power five over the last few seasons.

Leaving Wake Forest in favor of the sexier brand name of Notre Dame, Hartman has been prophetized as being the key to unlocking a run at this season’s College Football Playoff. After all, he’s the No. 2 player to have entered the transfer portal this cycle for a reason. He had his pick of the litter regarding college choices but chose to come to South Bend. That says all you need to know.