As many prospects as we can will be scouted and profiled between now and the 2023 NFL Draft, with an emphasis on their advantages and disadvantages as well as their potential value to an NFL team. These players may go all the way from being Day 3 picks and priority undrafted free agents to being top-10 picks. Scouting report on Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman today.
Sam Hartman was always under pressure in college, so you don’t have to worry what he would look like while facing NFL opponents. This tape is great since it demonstrates the most of his game’s skills. He studies the right side of the field after taking the snap and then returns to the left-running drag route. By now, an inside pass rusher has tackled a guard, forcing Hartman to throw. As Hartman takes a hit and Notre Dame is able to pick up a very significant chunk play, it is delivered accurately to his target.
The most remarkable aspect of Hartman’s game, in my opinion, is his ability to make plays with his legs. He was employed on planned QB runs by Wake Forest and Notre Dame, as the first tape below shows. Hartman would be highly effective with these plays if he were given the appropriate look, like in the first film where Clemson spreads out their linebackers opening up the center of the field. He is also capable of using his legs to break free from pressure and create something out of nothing, as shown in the second and third clips.
Even while I believe that Hartman’s accuracy is one of his shortcomings, he does have a couple throws per week that are a lot like those of an NFL starter. Among the highlights is this toss from the 2022 game versus Boston College. The corner is simply letting nothing get through, and Hartman throws a difficult pass to the pylon from behind his shoulder. Of course, a fantastic reception highlights this, but this is usually the view Hartman would be receiving when the game is close to ending and down a score. He demonstrates his ability to perform in this kind of circumstance.
Returning to Hartman’s accuracy, I made an effort to incorporate a clip from nearly every scenario. Hartman is seen being pressured in the pocket, performing a standard rollout dump off, and making a straightforward screen pass. Hartman has an open guy in all of these video, but he can’t deliver. When a receiver is thrown one of these balls from behind, they must adjust. Others, like the defender, are just out to sea and cannot be caught. In any case, an NFL coach will have to clear these things up, and Hartman could be a more alluring option if he were J.J. McCarthy’s age.
One thing I observed, specifically in this Clemson game, is Hartman’s propensity to look down his initial read check down and throw regardless of the circumstances. He tosses the ball despite the fact that there is almost no space between any of these covered routes. One ended with the opposing team scoring six, while the other was a dropped interception. You shouldn’t be making plays like these in the realm of college football, especially with your level of expertise. If all you do is injure your team by throwing to covered receivers, this is what will drastically reduce your draft stock.
Sam Hartman is an inspiring example of someone who overcame adversity while still achieving remarkable success. But his film, stature, and age don’t really support his NFL draft prospects. In my realistic opinion, Hartman’s professional path would resemble that of Chase Daniel. A long-term, reliable backup who may occasionally start due to injury and remain in the league for a considerable amount of time. Which isn’t too awful of a job, really, given Daniel only made five career starts and earned $41.8M as a backup.