GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Wake Forest redshirt junior quarterback Sam Hartman has been named the recipient of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2022 Brian Piccolo Award, the league announced on Monday.
 
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.
 
Hartman had serious doubts in early August that he would ever play football again, let alone be allowed to take the field for the 2022 season. Diagnosed with Paget-Schroetter syndrome (effort thrombosis) – a rare blood clot in the subclavian vein – the Charlotte, North Carolina native was immediately restricted from football-related activities. He underwent a procedure to remove the blood clot and subsequent surgery to eliminate the pressure on the affected vein.
 
With a rehab effort led by Dr. Julie A. Freischlag, a renowned vascular surgeon and one of the world’s leading experts in Paget-Schroetter syndrome, Hartman defied all odds by returning to the practice field in less than a month. Freischlag, the CEO/Chief Academic Officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Dean of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, teamed with Dr. Matthew Goldman, Niles Fleet and the entire Wake medical sports and performance staff to enhance Hartman’s remarkable recovery.
 
After sitting out just one game, Hartman delivered the season so many anticipated, ranking second in the ACC with 3,421 passing yards in 11 games while tying for the lead in touchdown passes with 35. He ended the regular season with 107 touchdown passes for his career, tying former Clemson standout Tajh Boyd for the all-time ACC record.
 
“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,”  Wake Forest 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.”
 
Please see here for an ESPN feature segment on Hartman’s diagnosis and inspiring recovery that aired November 19 on ACC Network.
 
Hartman becomes the sixth student-athlete from Wake Forest to earn the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award and the first since wide receiver/kick returner Greg Dortch in 2018.

ACC Brian Piccolo Award Winners
1970       Paul Miller, QB, North Carolina
1971       Jim Webster, LB, North Carolina
1972       Mark Johnson, QB, Duke
1973       Al Neville, QB, Maryland
1974       David Visaggio, DG, Maryland
1975       Scott Gardner, QB, Virginia
1976       Jeff Green, DE, Duke
1977       Ralph Stringer, DB, NC State
1978       Rex Varn, DB, Clemson
1979       Al Richardson, LB, Georgia Tech
1980       Jack Cain, DB, Clemson
1981       Aaron Stewart, DB, Duke
1982       Kenny Duckett, WR, Wake Forest
1983       John Piedmonte, OLB, Wake Forest
1984       J.D. Maarleveld, T, Maryland
1985       Danny Burmeister, DB, N. Carolina
1986       Ray Williams, WR, Clemson
1987       no recipient
1988       Jerry Mays, TB, Georgia Tech
1989       Michael Anderson, RB, Maryland
1990       Marc Mays, WR, Duke
1991       Scott Adell, T, NC State
1992       Dan Footman, DE, Florida State
                Randy Cuthbert, TB, Duke
1993       Scott Youmans, DL, Duke
1994       Chris Harrison, T, Virginia
1995       Warren Forney, DT, Clemson
1996       John Lewis, RB, Wake Forest
1997       Sam Cowart, LB, Florida State
1998       Anthony Poindexter, DB, Virginia
                Corey Simon, DT, Florida State
1999       Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State
2000       Ed Wilder, FB, Georgia Tech
2001       Matt Crawford, T, Maryland
2002       Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State
2003       Kevin Bailey, OL, Virginia
2004       Frank Gore, RB, Miami
2005       Ryan Best, S, Virginia
2006       Glenn Sharpe, Miami
2007       Matt Robinson, DE, Wake Forest
2008       Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
2009       Toney Baker, RB, NC State
2010       Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College
                Nate Irving, LB, NC State
2011       Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
2012       Shayon Green, DE, Miami
                Chris Thompson, RB, Florida State
2013       Robert Godhigh, RB, Georgia Tech
2014       Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
2015       Hunter Knighton, OL, Miami
2016       James Conner, RB, Pitt
2017       Trevon Young, DE, Louisville
2018       Greg Dortch, WR/KR, Wake Forest
2019       Richard Yeargin, DE, Boston College
2020       Nolan Cooney, P, Syracuse
2021       McKenzie Milton, QB, Florida State
                Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
2022       Sam Hartman, QB, Wake Forest