Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman: Chemistry with receivers ‘light years’ better, but not satisfied

Notre Dame began Saturday’s practice with good, old-fashioned wide receiver-defensive back one-on-ones. For the final rep, Irish coaches called for “best on best,” and out came junior receiver Jayden Thomas and graduate cornerback Cam Hart.

With Hart draped all over him, near the front pilon, Thomas swiftly turned his back shoulder toward the sideline. By that time, the ball from graduate quarterback Sam Hartman was halfway there. It arrived in the perfect spot, right where the long-armed Hart couldn’t reach it, and Thomas made the catch.

The back-shoulder throw is a timing route, and one that only works if the signal-caller is in lockstep with his intended target. Hartman has hit more than a few of them throughout fall camp, particularly to Thomas, but he and sophomore receiver Tobias Merriweather connected on one earlier in one-on-ones.

It’s a sign Notre Dame’s new quarterback is developing chemistry with his new group of receivers. Asked how far that chemistry has come since the spring Saturday, Hartman said very far, but he’s by no means satisfied.

“Light years ahead of where we were, but we’re so far away from where we wanna be,” Hartman said. “I think every practice, every week we’re gonna grow and develop, and I think all of us, from the coaches down, we’re all learning, developing, growing.”

Hartman helped build connections with his skill position weapons, he said, by spending time with them off the field. Because he has a relationship with them outside of football, the trust between the sixth-year Wake Forest transfer and his largely youthful group of wideouts is greater than it would otherwise be.

With Thomas in particular, Hartman said people told him when he got to Notre Dame that the third-year receiver was “one of those special guys.” Thomas was the leading wide receiver for the Irish and second-leading pass catcher behind junior tight end Michael Mayer. 

Thomas picked up a somewhat modest 25 catches for 361 yards this past season, but he looks primed for much more in 2023.

“It’s just more reps and more reps,” Hartman said. “Only the season will tell. Everybody can look good in practice, but I know that [Thomas] and the entire receiver room can all play at this level. It’s just gonna be how far we wanna take it.”

Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli sees Hartman’s rapport with Thomas, too, and said that the focus of fall camp is developing that same chemistry with Merriweather, senior slot receiver Chris Tyree and Notre Dame’s tight end corps. 

It’s easy to get timing right in during the offseason, Guidugli said, but August is when that process really ramps up.

Timing is one thing when you’re in the summer and you’re throwing on air,” Guidugli said. “And when you’re taking a drop and there’s people pass-rushing you and there’s offensive line blocking, you’ve got a defender out there — I think timing is a different thing.”

Hartman has a little less than three weeks to get himself and his receivers where he wants them to be. Notre Dame takes on Navy on Aug. 26.

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