Notre Dame Quarterback Sam Hartman Speaks To Media At The NFL Scouting Combine
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is firmly underway. A part of the event, several Notre Dame prospects are busy impressing the scouts, decision makers and coaches in attendance. That includes quarterback Sam Hartman, who had his media availability on Friday.
Here is what Hartman had to say.
Hartman on what he wants to prove this week:
"That's a great question. I think I'm going to go out there and give it everything I have. I know I had a long career in college football and none of this stuff is too big. The speed and agility and stuff, I can run. I can move. I just wanna go out there and prove that I have that ability."
Hartman on his preparation this offseason:
"I've worked on the off season to kind of hone in on my forty, the jumps, everything. On the field, just feeling smooth, quick, being accurate, getting it all out on time and making some completions and showing some velocity behind it. I think at the end of the day, I want to go out there and have fun. I think it's an unbelievable opportunity for me to go out and say that I got to go to the combine so that I'm here. It's just incredible."
Hartman on his opportunity to showcase himself:
"I think it's huge. I think the one thing with this whole draft class, especially with the quarterbacks, is we're all pretty old except for Drake (Maye). I think it's a great opportunity for me to be able to show knowledge of the game. I've played in two systems and went into two locker rooms as a captain in life and sitting in the interviews and going to talk to the coaches."
Hartman on quarterbacks from the Charlotte area:
"It was huge. I think it's surreal. Like when I see Drake walking around, I still see him as a guy who was a little guy to me. And then obviously a couple of years later, he's way taller than me. It's incredible. You obviously have Sam Howell with the Commanders, and it's just a lot of guys before me that kind of set the stage."
Hartman on relationship with Drake Maye:
"Obviously Drake is a little after me, but now at the same time it's just cool. We were sitting in our room, I talked about it and just the memories and his dad was my quarterback coach. So we both kind of have similar styles. Obviously he's a little bigger and stronger and all that fun stuff, but it's just really cool to see him out here and excited for me."
Hartman on how his college experience prepared him for the next level:
"I think Wake Forest gave me so much. For five years they stood by me and Coach (Dave) Clawson’s coaching was just incredible for me. My teammates, they're awesome. We got the opportunity with the COVID year and the redshirt to kind of explore and see what was what came down at the end of the year. It gave me an idea if there was something out there that I could go do. I was a part of the pro-style offense. It was great. I think having two offenses under my system, getting under center, getting in and out of the huddle. Playing with guys like Joe (Alt) and all other guys to set the tone."
Hartman on Notre Dame:
"A lot of schools don't do cadences. So working in an NFL cadence and everything in between was incredible that Notre Dame itself. We're close to two and a half hours north, but the fan base right here is right there. It's just everywhere. The place changed my life forever."
Hartman on Joe Alt:
"I don't know if there's anything negative that I could ever say about him and I mean that sincerely. I think he's the best. He's the best in the draft. I think wherever he goes, he's going to be successful. He's a guy you can call 24/7. He'll be there no matter what it is. You need help with your engineering homework or you need a protection on the left side of it, he’s everything. You won’t find someone say something negative about him."
Hartman on the next big time draft prospect for Notre Dame:
"I think Ben Morrison is next up and you will probably be talking about for a long time. He’s been awesome. I think he’s extremely mature. I think he handles everything like a pro and I’m excited for him."
Hartman on teams showing interest:
"Yeah I’ve met with a lot of teams and they do it in the NFL. Like I've been told a million times, you never know. So every team talks to them and talks the most. Almost everyone is just just happy to get the opportunity to."
Hartman on someone who he compares to:
"I think you always get in trouble for saying this because somebody said something that you know you're not but I like Baker (Mayfield). I just think he plays with a lot of passion. I think just seeing him go from team to team and the amount of battling and just the way he plays the game is really awesome."
Hartman on why his Madden rating should be:
"I’ll let the fans decide. Probably not very high right now. I have a lot to prove."
Hartman on what separates him:
"I think it's resiliency in games and self awareness. I think a big thing is being a leader out there and I think everybody is a leader. Everybody's the captain. I've been a captain at two different spots for years. Out of my six, I’ve been a captain four times. I've had two almost career ending life threatening injuries. I played in something like 50 games. There’s just a lot behind me and a lot in front of me and I’m so excited. Whatever opportunity I get to make the most of it, I’m going to try and take advantage of it."
Hartman on Gerad Parker:
"That is incredible. It was great to see him. He looks super happy to be down at Troy and I know he'll miss Notre Dame and what he did was incredible. I know we got a lot of flack throughout the year wins, losses, bad offense, good offense. I think we both share the blame in that. And also we share the success. It’s a pretty surreal thing to go 9-3 you know and what people say about him. I think he's an incredible coach. I think Troy's an extremely lucky program. I'd say he's an incredible coach, but as often as it gets forgotten is an incredible man. Him and his family and how he taught everybody on offense how to be a football player and also how to be a man on the field is something I'll never forget."
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