Tag: Sam Hartman

Notre Dame has ‘no plans’ for transfer portal quarterback in 2025

Does this make you happy?

Amidst all the hoopla surrounding National Signing Day, one question remained for Notre Dame. Would it go to transfer portal for a quarterback again in 2025 given how it has done so in three of the past four years?

It was a fair question given that [autotag]Jack Coan[/autotag], [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] and [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] all have been handed the keys to the Irish’s offense fresh off playing at other universities. But [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] assured at his National Signing Day news conference that that wouldn’t be the case.

When asked whether the Irish have enough quarterbacks in the wings already, Freeman assured that they did, adding, “We have no plans on going to the transfer portal for a quarterback.”

That will be a big relief to a quarterbacks room that already features [autotag]Steve Angeli[/autotag], [autotag]Kenny Minchey[/autotag], [autotag]CJ Carr[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Rezac[/autotag]. And don’t forget about Blake Hebert, one of the many signees for the Irish earlier in the day.

Here’s Freeman’s entire news conference in which he gives this assurance:

Finally in 2025, we’ll get to see how good Freeman and his staff are at recruiting quarterbacks instead of obtaining them from elsewhere.

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Commanders re-sign QB Sam Hartman to practice squad

Sam Hartman is back.

That didn’t last long. On Saturday, the Washington Commanders re-signed rookie quarterback Sam Hartman to the practice squad, two days after waiving him from the 53-man roster.

This always seemed like the move the Commanders would make. Before releasing Hartman from the 53-man roster, Washington released defensive end Justin Hollins from the practice squad, clearing a spot for Hartman’s return.

Hartman, who had a standout career at Wake Forest and Notre Dame, signed with the Commanders as a priority free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft. During the cutdown to 53 players, Washington waived Hartman but quickly re-signed him to the practice squad. The Commanders signed him to the main roster ahead of Week 1 when it was revealed that veteran Marcus Mariota would begin the season on the reserve/injured list.

Hartman served as Washington’s third quarterback behind Jayden Daniels and Jeff Driskel for the first four games. Mariota returned last week, and the Commanders didn’t need four quarterbacks.

With Hartman returning to the practice squad, Washington can still develop him as a potential future backup to Daniels.

Commanders release rookie quarterback ahead of Week 6 vs. Ravens

The Commanders make a move at QB after Mariota’s return.

The Washington Commanders carried two rookie quarterbacks on their roster for the first few weeks of the season while veteran Marcus Mariota was sidelined. Mariota returned last week as the backup to rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.

On Thursday, Washington released its other rookie quarterback, Sam Hartman, leaving the Commanders with three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Veteran Jeff Driskel is Washington’s No. 3 quarterback.

The Commanders signed Hartman as a priority undrafted free agent after a standout career at Wake Forest and Notre Dame. Hartman played in the first preseason game before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the final two preseason games.

Hartman was released during Washington’s final cutdown to 53 players but was quickly re-signed to the practice squad. However, when the Commanders placed Mariota on the reserve/injured list, they signed Hartman to the 53-man roster to serve as the No. 3 quarterback behind Daniels and Driskel.

It would not be surprising if Hartman quickly returned to Washington’s practice squad. The Commanders released defensive end Justin Hollins from the practice squad on Tuesday.

 

Could Matthew Sluka come to Notre Dame?

Could the disgruntled UNLV signal caller come to Notre Dame?

University of Nevada Las Vegas quarterback Matthew Sluka wants out after an allegedly promised NIL deal seems to have gone sour.

Could he end up in South Bend, playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?

Sluka is sitting out after he says he didn’t receive a potential name, image and likeness (NIL) payment. The whole story is fascinating and provides insight into how NIL and the transfer portal have changed college football.

It’s worth reading about, but it has us wondering — if Sluka were to leave a competitive Running Rebels team, could he play for the Fighting Irish?

 

To be clear, we’re speculating, not reporting. Sluka has left the team because he believes he was owed money in a promised NIL deal from UNLV coaches. The school claims Sluka’s agent made demands it saw as potential violations of NCAA rules.

There’s no sign yet of Sluka’s future moves and no indication he’s heading to the Irish. Still, it’s fun to think about since current Fighting Irish starting quarterback Riley Leonard is a senior and will be leaving South Bend at season’s end. Leonard, like Sam Hartman before him, came to the Irish via the transfer portal. Sluka has a year of eligibility left now that he’s taken his redshirt year.

If Sluka enters the portal, a lot of teams will want his services. That very well might include the Irish.

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Commanders place QB Marcus Mariota on IR, promote Sam Hartman to 53-man roster

Mariota to IR, Hartman to the 53 and other moves for the Commanders ahead of Week 1.

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota has been injured since his appearance in the Week 1 preseason game against the New York Jets. On Saturday, one day before the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders placed Mariota on injured reserve.

Mariota missed practice on Thursday and Friday, with the team ruling him out for Sunday’s game. Veteran Jeff Driskel will serve as rookie Jayden Daniels’ backup. In another corresponding move, Washington promoted rookie quarterback Sam Hartman from the practice squad.

Mariota must remain on IR for at least four weeks.

On Friday, head coach Dan Quinn said the following about Mariota’s injury:

“Yes. So, I would say he strained a pec, his chest, and so I would say right now he’s unlikely,” Quinn said.

Mariota played one series against the Jets. Shortly after, the Commanders officially named Daniels the starting quarterback, which was the plan once coaches believed Daniels had earned it.

In other moves, the Commanders also elevated defensive tackle Sheldon Day and linebacker Nick Bellore from the practice squad. Both are veterans, and Bellore will be promoted for his work on special teams.

Washington and Tampa Bay are scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Commanders sign 16 players to practice squad

Commanders sign 16 players to the practice squad.

The Washington Commanders finalized their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday. One day, Washington wasted no time in putting together its practice squad.

Washington announced it had signed 12 players to the practice squad, 11 of whom were with the Commanders in training camp. Before the end of Wednesday, Washington added four more players to the practice squad.

NFL teams are allowed a 16-man practice squad, but if you have a player in the International Player Pathway Program, you are allowed 17 players. The Commanders have defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi, who signed with the team in April and was waived on Tuesday.

So far, Washington has 16 players confirmed for the practice squad, with one spot remaining.

Here’s a look at the Commanders’ new practice squad.

  • RB Kazmeir Allen
  • CB Chigozie Anusiem
  • G Julian Good-Jones
  • QB Sam Hartman
  • DE Andre Jones Jr.
  • DT Haggai Ndubuisi
  • RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
  • WR Mitchell Tinsley
  • WR Brycen Tremayne
  • TE Cole Turner
  • DE Carlos Watkins
  • RB Michael Wiley
  • G Max Scharping
  • LB Jalen Graham
  • CB Bobby Price
  • DT Sheldon Day

Graham, Day, Watkins, Price, and Scharping are newcomers to Washington. Graham was the 49ers’ seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Commanders GM Adam Peters knows Graham well, having previously served as the 49ers’ assistant GM. Price has connections to assistant GM Lance Newmark from their time in Detroit.

Day, 30, began his NFL career in 2016 and has spent time with five teams, including the 49ers when Peters was there. Watkins, 30, began his career in 2017 and played two seasons for Commanders head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas.

Washington Commanders waive former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman

Tough break for him

After using up his college eligibility at Notre Dame, quarterback [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] set his eyes on professional football.

After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders scooped him up as a free agent. If it didn’t work out, he also could go to the Birmingham Stallions, who drafted him into the UFL a few months later.

While the door isn’t completely closed on Hartman’s NFL aspirations, he’ll need to prove that he belongs in the league. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network is reporting that Hartman will not be on the Commanders’ roster to start the season but could remain part of the organization:

Hartman’s preseason showing left a little to be desired. He completed eight of 13 passes for 83 yards and no touchdowns, only playing in the Commanders’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. The longest pass he completed was for 19 yards.

The NFL can be unforgiving, so let’s hope Hartman eventually can clear the necessary hurdles to make it there.

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Urban Meyer questions Notre Dame’s recent reliance on transfer QBs

Is this a fair criticism?

[autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag] once was Notre Dame’s receivers coach and might be the best assistant coach it ever had who never took over the program.

Now free from the pressures of coaching altogether, he can just talk about football on The Triple Option. It has to be so liberating knowing he doesn’t have people scrutinizing him every second of every day anymore.

While chatting with co-host Rob Stone of Fox Sports, the Irish inevitably came up. Meyer mentioned the program’s recent trend of bringing in transfers as starting quarterback and how teams doing that hasn’t led to many national championships lately:

[autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] is following [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Coan[/autotag] from earlier in this decade. While the Irish aren’t expected to win a national title this season anyway, it does make one wonder how confident they are in their ability to develop homegrown quarterbacks. We’ll see if they showcase that confidence over the rest of the 2020s.

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Trace McSorley excited to play for his hometown Commanders

McSorley excited to play for his hometown team.

The Washington Commanders didn’t need to look for quarterback depth this week. With veteran Marcus Mariota and rookie Sam Hartman sidelined for Washington’s Week 2 preseason game, the Commanders signed Ashburn, Virginia native Trace McSorley.

After a record-setting career at Briar Woods High School, where he won two state championships, he went on to Penn State, starting for three seasons, and broke several school records.

The Ravens selected McSorley in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, where he spent three seasons. Since his time with Baltimore ended, McSorley has spent time with the Cardinals, Patriots, Bears and Steelers. It was his time in Arizona where he played for current Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

McSorley was with the Commanders on Thursday for their joint practice with the Dolphins, where he spoke about joining his hometown team.

“It’s exciting, obviously when I was a kid, I grew up going to training camp, practices, and things of that nature, followed the team, so being back in the area, being familiar, a place I used to drive by all the time as a kid and look at in awe,” McSorley said. “So, yesterday me pulling up and walking in for the first time was pretty cool.”

McSorley understands this is an audition and nothing is guaranteed, but he’s determined to make the most of his opportunity, whether it’s in Washington or for one of the NFL’s other 31 teams.

Commanders are signing quarterback Trace McSorley

The Commanders sign a veteran QB with local ties due to Sam Hartman’s shoulder injury.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Sam Hartman injured his right throwing shoulder in last week’s preseason-opening loss to the New York Jets. Hartman left the game and did not return.

On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn offered an update on Hartman.

“Sam will be out today and tomorrow, and I would say if he and a couple of other guys don’t make it back in time for practice, they wouldn’t play on Saturday; that would be where we’re at,” Quinn said. He did say that Hartman’s injury didn’t appear to be a long-term concern.

Washington is off on Wednesday as the team travels to Miami for Thursday’s joint practice. With Hartman missing Monday and Tuesday’s practice, Quinn said he’d be out for the week. In response, the Commanders added more quarterback depth, signing veteran Trace McSorley, per Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C.

McSorley, 28, was a three-year starter at Penn State. The Baltimore Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. He spent the first three seasons with Baltimore, but in his third season, the Arizona Cardinals signed him off the Ravens practice squad.

Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was Arizona’s head coach at that time.

McSorley spent the remainder of the 2021 season with the Cardinals and all of 2022. In April 2023, he signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots but was released during final cuts. In October, the Bears signed McSorley to their practice squad but released him the following month.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed McSorley to their practice squad in December and released him at the end of the season.

McSorley is an Ashburn native, growing up minutes from Washington’s team headquarters. He played at Briar Woods High School and led them to three state championships. The 5-foot-11, 211-pound McSorley has appeared in nine career NFL games with one start. He has completed 48 of his 91 passing attempts with 502 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions.

To make room for McSorley, Washington is releasing second-year offensive lineman Mason Brooks. Brooks signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Quinn will next speak to the media on Thursday ahead of Washington’s practice with Miami.