Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman wins ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award

Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest football redshirt junior quarterback Sam Hartman was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2022 Brian Piccolo Award recipient on Monday. Hartman is the sixth Demon Deacon to win this prestigious honor and he will be celebrated at the league’s legends dinner on Friday in Charlotte. 

WFU QB Sam Hartman (photo by Gene Galin)

“As a three-time captain and someone who is one of the finest leaders I have had the pleasure to coach, Sam Hartman is the heartbeat of our football team and is well deserving of this honor,” head coach Dave Clawson said. “His dedication, work ethic and drive have allowed him to become one of the best quarterbacks in the country and he has persevered through so much off the field in his life. On behalf of our football program, I would like to thank the Atlantic Coast Conference for recognizing Sam as the 2022 Brian Piccolo Award recipient.

The Piccolo Award has been given annually since 1970 in memory of the late Brian Piccolo to the “most courageous” football player in the ACC. As a standout running back at Wake Forest, Piccolo was the ACC Athlete of the Year in 1965 and played for the Chicago Bears before his career was cut short when he was diagnosed with cancer. His courageous fight against the disease was an inspiration to the Bears and the entire football community.

Career Snapshot

Redshirt junior quarterback Sam Hartman, one of the nation’s top returning players, returned to the field on Saturday, Sept. 10 to make his season debut.

Quick Bio & Career Recap:

Sam Hartman, who is one of eight returning semifinalists for the Maxwell Award from a year ago and one of five returning finalists for the Manning Award, goes into the 2022 season with 9,266 career passing yards, ranking second in program history. Additionally, he holds the program record with 72 career touchdown passes while also ranking in the top-five in program history in career completions, attempts, completion percentage and passing efficiency.

He is the only Wake Forest quarterback with three or more four-plus touchdown games in his career.

Last season, the Charlotte, N.C. native had a breakout sophomore campaign, being named a finalist for the Manning Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award while also being chosen as a Semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award.

He garnered Second Team All-ACC honors from the league, coaches and media, was the back-to-back ACC Quarterback of the Week (Oct. 25 and Nov. 1) and was named MVP of the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, finishing the game with 304 yards and three touchdown passes.

His 50 total touchdowns ranked second in conference history and was just one away from tying the ACC record. Hartman threw for 4,228 yards in 2021, ranking sixth in ACC history and first in Wake Forest history. Additionally, he ran for 11 touchdowns, the second-most in program history by a Wake Forest quarterback.

So far this offseason, Hartman has earned Preseason First Team All-ACC from both Lindy’s Sports and Athlon while also being named the Preseason ACC MVP by Lindy’s Sports. Additionally, he has been placed on the Walter Camp Watch List, Davey O’Brien Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List and now the Manning Award Watch List.

2022 Preseason Honors for Sam Hartman

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List (August 24)

Manning Award Watch List (August 22)

Walter Camp Watch List (July 29)

Davey O’Brien Watch List (July 19)

Maxwell Award Watch List (July 18)

PFF First Team All-ACC (Quarterback)

Athlon First Team All-ACC (Quarterback)

Lindy’s First Team All-ACC (Quarterback)

Lindy’s Preseason ACC MVP

Phil Steele Third Team All-ACC (Quarterback)

2022 In-Season Honors for Sam Hartman

Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist (Nov. 16)

Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist (Nov. 15)

ACC Quarterback of the Week (Sept. 12)

Davey O’Brien Great 8 (Sept. 12)

Manning Award Stars of the Week (Sept. 12)

Off-Field Medical Condition News & Updates:

August 10: Hartman Out Indefinitely For Non-Football Related Medical Condition

Here are public comments from head coach Dave Clawson on Sam’s condition on August 10. 

Sept. 7: Hartman Cleared for Return to Competition by Wake Forest University Sports Medicine Experts

Week 2 Dave Clawson Weekly Press Conference Following Sam Hartman Medically Cleared News.

Statement from Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS, Sam’s surgeon, who is one of the world’s leading experts in Paget-Schroetter syndrome, or effort thrombosis, Sam’s diagnosis. This condition is rare, but is more common in young and otherwise healthy men. Dr. Freischlag is a renowned vascular surgeon, in addition to her roles as CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer of Atrium Health.

“Sam developed a blood clot in the subclavian vein. This condition is known as Paget-Schroetter syndrome, or effort thrombosis. We suspect this occurred as a result of a previous infection that eventually caused inflammation.

“After our diagnosis on August 9, we first did a procedure to remove the blood clot. Secondly, we performed surgery to eliminate the pressure on the vein and then dilated the vein.

“On Sept. 2, we did another follow-up ultrasound on Sam and everything looked great. The clot was gone, the blood flow was good and he felt great. Blood thinner therapies were discontinued once they became medically unnecessary and he is medically cleared to return to full competition.

“Sam is a wonderful young man and I, and our entire team, wish him all the best as he returns to the football field.

Here is a feature from Jen Lada and ESPN that details how this condition was discovered and Sam Hartman’s inspiring road to recovery.

This piece aired on Nov. 19, 2022.  

Overall Season Stats:

Sam Hartman has completed 247-of-392 passes (63.0%) for 3,421 yards and 35 touchdowns. 

Sam Hartman Records Watch:

Sam Hartman broke the Wake Forest all-time passing mark against Liberty, eclipsing Riley Skinner (2006-09) with a five-yard pass to Ke’Shawn Williams in the third quarter. With 347 yards today against Duke, he has now thrown for 12,687 career passing yards.

Sam Hartman (2018-present), 12,687 

Riley Skinner (2006-09), 9,762

Tanner Price (2010-13), 8,899

John Wolford (2014-17), 8,794

Brian Kuklick (1994-98), 8,017

Hartman is the 41st player in NCAA history and just the third passer in the history of the ACC to eclipse the 12,000-yard passing barrier for his career, joining elite company. Last week, Hartman passed Kenny Pickett and is remains second in ACC history in this category:

1.    Philip Rivers, NC State (2000-03)        13,484

2.    Sam Hartman, Wake Forest (2018-Pres.)    12,687

3.    Kenny Pickett, Pitt (2017-21)            12,303

4.    Tajh Boyd, Clemson (2010-13)            11,904

5.    Ryan Finley, NC State (2014-18)        10,501

6.    Sam Howell, North Carolina (2019-21)        10,283

7.    Deshaun Watson, Clemson (2014-16)        10,168

8.    Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (2018-20)        10,098

9.    Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (2006-09)        10,065

10.    Brad Kaaya, Miami (2014-16)            9,968

Hartman already holds the program record with 107 career touchdown passes, which he added to with three passing scores on Saturday. With that, Hartman tied Tajh Boyd for the most touchdown passes in ACC history. He is on track to pass Boyd with one guaranteed game remaining this season.

1. Sam Hartman, Wake Forest (2018-Present) – 107

   Tajh Boyd, Clemson (2010-13) – 107

3. Philip Rivers, NC State (2000-03) – 95

4. Sam Howell, North Carolina (2019-21) – 92

5. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (2014-16) – 90

    Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (2018-20) – 90

7. Kenny Pickett, Pitt (2017-21) – 81

8. Chris Weinke, Florida State (1997-00) – 79

9. Russell Wilson, NC State (2008-10) – 76

Additionally, his 104 passing touchdowns ranks 23rd in NCAA history and he is tied with former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett. 

He was just the 26th QB in FBS history to cross over the 100 touchdown mark for his career.

Among active players, Hartman has the most career passing touchdowns in the FBS. Houston’s Clayton Tune trails Hartman by five touchdowns going into week 13. 

With 107 career passing touchdowns and 17 career rushing scores, Hartman’s 124 total touchdowns are the second most in conference history:

1. Tajh Boyd, Clemson (2010-13) – 133

Sam Hartman, Wake Forest (2018-Present) – 124

3. Malik Cunningham, Louisville (2018-Pres.) – 119

    Lamar Jackson, Louisville (2015-17) – 119

5. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (2014-16) – 116

6. Philip Rivers, NC State (2000-03) – 113

7. Sam Howell, North Carolina (2019-21) – 111

8. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (2018-20) – 108

9. Kenny Pickett, Pitt (2017-21) – 102

10. Marquise Williams, North Carolina (2012-15) – 99

Among active players, Hartman ranks first in the Power-5 in total touchdowns, two ahead of Louisville’s Malik Cunningham. 

Additionally with Louisville’s Malik Cunningham having his streak of 30 consecutive games with a TD responsible for coming to an end in Week 1 at Syracuse and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel’s streak of 29-straight games coming to an end two weeks ago against TCU,  Hartman’s streak of 33-straight games with a TD now leads the FBS.  

Wake Forest Brian Piccolo Award Winners

1982 – Kenny Duckett 

1983 – John Piedmonte 

1996 – John Lewis 

2007 – Matt Robinson

2018 – Greg Dortch

2022 – Sam Hartman