From Oceanside Collegiate to reality television
Sam Hartman, a former quarterback at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, has been selected as the lead for the 30th season of The Bachelor, adding a new chapter to a career that has moved from high school football fields to major college stadiums and the NFL. Hartman graduated from OCA in 2017 and will now become the central figure in the next installment of the long-running reality franchise.
The announcement gives the school a prominent connection to a national television program while also revisiting Hartman’s time as the Landsharks’ quarterback. Although Hartman is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, he moved to Mount Pleasant before his final high school season to play at Oceanside Collegiate. That season established him as one of the area’s leading football players and helped set the direction for the next stage of his career.
A standout final season
Hartman’s senior campaign at Oceanside Collegiate produced the kind of numbers that drew attention beyond the school. He passed for more than 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding nine rushing touchdowns. The Landsharks finished that season with a 7-3 record. Those results made Hartman a central part of the program’s success and helped create a public profile that continued after his graduation.
His final year at the school was also documented for television. Hartman appeared as one of the featured players on QB1: Beyond the Lights, a reality series focused on high school quarterbacks. His upcoming role on The Bachelor will therefore mark his second reality television appearance, though the format will be considerably different from the football-centered program that first introduced him to viewers.
- High school: Oceanside Collegiate Academy, graduating in 2017
- College path: Wake Forest followed by Notre Dame
- Professional team: Washington Commanders
- Television roles: QB1: Beyond the Lights and the upcoming 30th season of The Bachelor
A five-season college career
After graduating early, Hartman enrolled at Wake Forest and became the Demon Deacons’ starting quarterback during his freshman season. He remained a major part of the program for most of his time there, appearing in 48 games across five seasons. That extended run gave him substantial experience before he transferred to Notre Dame in 2023 with one season of eligibility remaining.
At Notre Dame, Hartman threw for nearly 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns during his lone season with the Fighting Irish. His college career then led to an opportunity with the Washington Commanders. He has spent the past two seasons with the organization, moving on and off its practice squad, according to the announcement.
A new kind of spotlight
Hartman’s selection also carries a bit of franchise history. He will be the second NFL quarterback to serve as the show’s lead, following Jesse Palmer, who later became the program’s host. Hartman is 27 years old, and his background gives the upcoming season a sports-driven point of entry even as the program shifts its focus from competition on the field to relationships on camera.
For Oceanside Collegiate, the announcement adds another nationally visible moment to the school’s recent history through one of its former athletes. Hartman’s path includes a successful final high school season, two major college programs, an NFL opportunity and an earlier television appearance. The next season of The Bachelor will present a different test: instead of directing an offense, Hartman will be introducing himself to viewers as the person at the center of the show’s relationship-focused storyline.
