Caesars and other sportsbooks had opened Wake Forest at Over/Under 8.5 wins this year off 10 regular-season victories in 2021 and a trip to the ACC Championship Game, but the books have taken the win total down with the news that quarterback Sam Hartman, an ACC Player of the Year candidate, is out indefinitely with a non-football related medical condition. Wake Forest opens the season Sept. 1 vs. Virginia Military Institute and there's no odd s for the game yet because VMI is an FCS school. Hartman remains +5000 to win the Heisman Trophy.
The school announced the news Wednesday morning, after a medical evaluation of Hartman on Tuesday at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. After workouts Tuesday, Hartman sought medical attention for a condition unrelated to football. Details were withheld due to privacy restrictions.
“Tuesday was a frustrating day, but I am extremely grateful for our medical staff,” Hartman said in a statement. “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.”
The Deacons finished 11-3 last year after routing Rutgers in the Gator Bowl, the most wins for Wake Forest since 2006 and tying a school record. Hartman started every game and was named second-team All-ACC. He passed for 4,228 yards, sixth in the ACC and a school record, with 39 touchdowns (No. 2 in ACC) and ran for 11 more scores, the second-most in program history by a Wake Forest quarterback. His 50 total TDs were a school record and second in conference history. The Deacons averaged 41.2 points per game, fifth nationally.