Before the 2023 season, Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman has been ranked in several different ways. Even if I disagree with the conclusion, some are reasonable, but too many are confusing or rude.
I rate the former Wake Forest quarterback in the Top 10 national quarterbacks. However, some rate Hartman lower, which is inexplicable. Our newest Irish Breakdown podcast covered it.
QBs like Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Frank Harris (UTSA), Michael Pratt (Tulane), and Devin Leary (Kentucky) were difficult to accept. I like Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson, but he doesn’t produce like Hartman.
The Athletic listed Hartman as a tier four quarterback and No. 12 overall.
ESPN’s David Hale’s tier methodology, which ranked Hartman as a tier four quarterback, was the worst. Hale ranked 21 quarterbacks/teams ahead of Hartman. Ironically, Hartman ranks 19th in college football history in throwing yards and 18th in passing touchdowns. 20 quarterbacks before him in 2023.
Hartman’s “quarterbacks” included Alabama’s starters, including former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner, who transferred to Alabama after Hartman thrashed him. Hartman’s low ranking reflects Hale’s faulty logic and Notre Dame mindset.
1,000-yard receivers are a poor, well-reasoned way to rate quarterbacks. That’s more about the clubs’ offenses and Notre Dame’s quarterback performance than Hartman. Hale claims Hartman is heading to a weaker Notre Dame squad than Wake Forest.
Hale writes like we’re preparing for a 7-on-7 tournament, even if Wake Forest has superior wide receivers. Running backs and offensive linemen are also crucial.
Hartman led Wake Forest to 45 points against Clemson with 337 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Wake Forest lost.
Notre Dame defeated Clemson 35-14 with a quarterback who completed 43 passes behind the line of scrimmage.
Ignoring that truth renders Hale’s analysis sloppy and flawed. Even with AT Perry in the NFL, Hartman is departing a better group of wide outs.
As shown above, the difference in talent and performance between the Wake receivers and the Notre Dame receivers is not nearly as large as the differential between the Notre Dame running backs, tight ends, and offensive line.