Sam Hartman shares extent of rib injury, bizarre plan to commemorate it

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman confirmed he had to have a rib removed earlier this year. But he still has the rib — although it’s in his refrigerator.

That’s the bizarre statement he told reporters on Friday, saying he also plans to take it and turn it into a necklace. Hartman missed Wake Forest’s first game of the season as he dealt with a blood clot that sidelined him for a month.

His return was huge for the Demon Deacons. In 11 games this year, Hartman completed 63% of his passes for 3,421 yards and 35 touchdowns to help the team to a 7-5 overall record, including a 3-5 record in ACC play.

Wake Forest — like many teams around college football — is now awaiting its bowl game fate.

More on Sam Hartman’s early-season injury

Hartman made his return for Wake Forest against Vanderbilt after the program confirmed he had a blood clot removed. His surgeon, Julie Freischlag, said the diagnosis came in August and Harman responded well to treatment.

“Sam developed a blood clot in the subclavian vein,” Freischlag said in a statement. “This condition is known as Paget-Schroetter syndrome, or effort thrombosis. We suspect this occurred as a result of a previous infection that eventually caused inflammation. After our diagnosis on August 9, we first did a procedure to remove the blood clot. Secondly, we performed surgery to eliminate the pressure on the vein and then dilated the vein.

“On Friday, we did another follow-up ultrasound on Sam and everything looked great. The clot was gone, the blood flow was good and he felt great. Blood thinner therapies were discontinued once they became medically unnecessary and he is medically cleared to return to full competition. Sam is a wonderful young man and I, and our entire team, wish him all the best as he returns to the football field.”