Birmingham Stallions draft former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman

The UFL Champion Birmingham Stallions selected former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman in the 2024 college draft on Wednesday. Though Hartman ended up signing a contract with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL Draft, he was still eligible to have his UFL rights picked up. If the former Fighting Irish star doesn’t land a job on the Commanders’ 53-man roster or on the practice squad, he could play in the spring for Birmingham.

UFL contracts allow players to sign deals with an “NFL out,” which lets them play in the big leagues during the season. The team that drafts a player holds their exclusive rights until the player reports to the team or the team gives up that player’s rights.

The Stallions had the last pick of the round in the 10-round draft and selected Hartman with their ninth choice. Birmingham, coached by Skip Holtz, went 8-2 during the regular season on their way to the league title. The team was quarterbacked by former FIU standout Alex McGough who joined the Packers after the season.

Hartman prepares for first NFL training camp

Over a college career spanning six seasons, Hartman became one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history. He racked up an eye-popping 15,656 passing yards. He also threw for 134 touchdowns with 49 interceptions.

Hartman spent his first five seasons at Wake Forest, where he did considerable damage in the QB-friendly Demon Deacon scheme under Dave Clawson before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season. With Wake, Hartman led an 11-3 season in 2021 and then an 8-5 year in 2022, terrific campaigns by program standards.

Shortly following the NFL Draft, Hartman signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent. In a move that proved how much Washington liked him, however, they gave him one of the biggest deals among undrafted players, with a $20,000 signing bonus and $225,000 base salary guarantee. He joined a quarterback room with first-round pick Jayden Daniels, as well as Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel.

Hartman heads into his first NFL training camp this week, hoping to prove enough value to the Commanders to keep him around for the season. The Washington rookies report for camp on July 18, with veterans beginning check-in on July 23. First-year head coach Dan Quinn has high hopes that the experienced college quarterback can transition to the NFL and develop into someone who can contribute in the coming years, even if that means contributing behind Daniels.