'Stanford' Steve Coughlin optimistic about Notre Dame's potential with QB Sam Hartman

When Notre Dame takes the field Saturday against Navy, the Fighting Irish will have their first chance to show off their new offense led by Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman. The ACC’s all-time leading touchdown passer transferred in over the offseason and brought plenty of excitement with him.

For ESPN’s “Stanford” Steve Coughlin, he’s buying into the hype, as well.

Stanford Steve told On3’s Andy Staples he thinks Notre Dame fans have every right to be excited about what Hartman brings to the offense. The numbers he put up at Wake Forest speak for themselves, giving him a proven track record. That could come in handy in a possible College Football Playoff game.

“What I’m excited for — and I said it last night,” Stanford Steve said on Andy Staples On3. “I’m not a Notre Dame fan. I never have been, I never will be. But my two favorite things ever of Notre Dame are gone, and that’s Michael Mayer and it’s Tommy Rees. I absolutely love those two guys, but they’re going their own routes. But what I would say is I would be optimistic if I’m a Notre Dame fan because you’ve had lackluster quarterback play. And I love Ian Book. Great college quarterback. There were some insufficiencies when they got to have to play Bama or Clemson again in that playoff atmosphere.

“Sam Hartman is a guy who has pro potential, that is going to be better in those situations. He’s going to give you a better opportunity because now, with the game changing, you know you have to score when you get to the postseason. And Sam Hartman’s gonna give you that chance. You mentioned the wide receivers. I still think Wake Forest did a darn good job of getting playmakers around him. But it’s Notre Dame. They’re still going to have guys. So I’m super fired up.”

In five years at Wake Forest — he redshirted his sophomore season — Hartman threw for nearly 13,000 yards and 110 touchdowns. He put up monster numbers over the last two years, totaling 4,228 yards in 2021 and 3,701 yards in 2022.

Now in a pro-style offense run by Gerad Parker, Stanford Steve said Hartman could have a chance to put up numbers Notre Dame fans haven’t seen in some time.

“The biggest thing is seeing Sam Hartman, Andy, in the Notre Dame uniform, not doing the slow mesh or walk-the-dog offense,” Stanford Steve said. “Like, him under center, him in the shotgun with a pro-style offense. I mean, this is a guy … everybody loves the kid. He’s the all-time ACC touchdown pass leader. I was looking it up, he averaged over 300 yards passing the last two years. Notre Dame has had two guys in the history of the program — and I get it. Notre Dame has been an option team for the majority of their existence.

“But Jimmy Clausen and Brady Quinn are the only guys to average throwing for over 300 yards a game in a season. He’s done it the last two seasons. And Brady Quinn’s the all-time leader and touchdown passes in a season. I believe it’s 37. Hartman’s thrown 38 last year and 39 the year before.”

Stanford Steve also issued a warning to Notre Dame fans, though. The Fighting Irish start the season against Navy, which allowed 250.2 passing yards per game last season and is starting to rebuild under new coach Brian Newberry. The matchup could give Hartman a chance to air it out and make a strong first impression.

But Stanford Steve said Notre Dame fans should try to contain their excitement until Sam Hartman plays some tougher competition, such as when Ohio State comes to Notre Dame Stadium in Week 5.

“The one thing I will be wary of is in this Week 1 matchup, I see them throwing the ball down the field,” Stanford Steve said. “They’re gonna have a size and speed advantage on the perimeter as you do. And navy knows this. They are up against it every week. Don’t overreact to what we see in the Notre Dame pass game because of the advantages. Good teams are going to take advantage and get the ball their best players.

“I could see Notre Dame having a big day throwing the ball with Sam Hartman. But what’s it going to look like when Ohio State comes to town, against a formidable secondary. But again, I want to be optimistic for Notre Dame fans because Sam Hartman is the real deal and he brings that stuff to the table.”