Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman out indefinitely due to non-football related medical condition

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman will be sidelined indefinitely due to a “non-football related medical condition,” the school announced Wednesday.

According to a statement from the Wake Forest athletic department, Hartman “sought medical attention for a non-football related condition” following a workout on Tuesday. It was later determined that Hartman should be withheld from football activities.

“The results of those tests and subsequent treatment will remove Sam from team activities indefinitely. The timeline for his return to competition is uncertain,” the statement said.

No further details on Hartman’s condition were provided, citing privacy laws.

“Tuesday was a frustrating day, but I am extremely grateful for our medical staff and for Dr. Chris Miles and Niles Fleet for staying with me throughout this process,” Hartman said. “I look forward to attacking this rehabilitation process and I am so appreciative of the support I have received from my family, teammates and coaches.”

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson told reporters that Hartman underwent a "procedure" on Tuesday and is expected to return to the field at some point during the 2022 season.

Hartman has been Wake Forest’s starting quarterback for three of the past four seasons. In 2021, he led the Demon Deacons to an ACC Atlantic title. In the process, he threw for 4,228 yards and 39 touchdowns while also rushing for 363 yards and 11 scores.

Hartman first became Wake’s starter in 2018 as a freshman. He was behind Jamie Newman on the depth chart for much of the 2019 season but then re-emerged as the starter over the last two seasons. For his career, Hartman has thrown for 9,266 yards, 72 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He has one year of eligibility available beyond this season.

“Sam Hartman is the true embodiment of a leader and is one of the finest young men I have ever had the pleasure to coach,” Clawson said in a statement. “As a two-time captain and coming off record-setting seasons in 2020 and 2021, Sam was intensely focused on the betterment of his teammates throughout the entire offseason and helping our program continue to achieve great things on the field. Additionally, he is an incredible person in the community and in the classroom. We'll look forward to having Sam back on the field as soon as he can and in the meantime Sam and his family have the full support of our coaching staff and program in his recovery.”

Without Hartman, Clawson said Mitch Griffis moves to the top of the depth chart. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Griffis is in his third season with the program and has just 15 career pass attempts. For the remainder of preseason camp, Griffis will compete with Michael Kern, who is in his fourth season in the program but has also played sparingly behind Hartman. For his career, Kern has completed 21-of-38 passes for 370 yards and a touchdown. Last year, he attempted only five passes.

Wake Forest went 11-3 last season, tying the program record for most wins in a season. In the process, the Demon Deacons won a division crown for the second time in program history but lost in the ACC title game to Pittsburgh.

Wake Forest will open the 2022 season at home against VMI on Sept. 1.