Marc Morehouse, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa –
Iowa lost one quarterback to a position switch and subsequent transfer. After next season, Iowa will lose two more quarterbacks to graduation.
So, even with a junior-college quarterback already on campus, Iowa picked up another one Monday.
C.J. Beathard, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder from Franklin, Tenn., de-committed from Mississippi and selected the Hawkeyes. Beathard picked the Rebels while Houston Nutt was still head coach. Nutt was fired in favor of Hugh Freeze, who plans to move Mississippi from a pro-style offense to a spread.
Beathard is a pro-style quarterback, but Freeze’s staff fought to keep him. Beathard visited Iowa last weekend, liked what he saw and pulled the trigger, according to HawkeyeReport.com.
Beathard passed for 2,146 yards and 20 TDs in 2011 for Battle Ground Academy. As a junior, he threw for 2,406 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Beathard, the grandson of longtime NFL general manager Bobby Beathard, had a pair of 300-yard passing performances as a junior, one against Division II-AA finalist Baylor, and threw for 200 yards or more on four different occasions while leading the Wildcats into the D-II-AA state semifinals his junior year.
“They loved the film they had on him,” BGA Coach Marty Euverard told The Tennessean when Beathard committed to Ole’ Miss. “Their quarterbacks coach flew in for one day to watch him throw, and then he talked to Coach (Houston) Nutt, then called back and wanted to offer him.
“He’s skinny, but he can put on weight. He’s a pro-style quarterback. I think he can make almost every throw. And he’s a tough kid. He doesn’t mind sitting in the pocket and taking a hit to make a throw. I’m proud for him and his family. He’ll do great. He had a great year last year. I knew if somebody watched that tape and came to watch him throw, somebody would want him.”
Beathard is Iowa’s 22nd commitment for the 2012 recruiting class. Signing day is Wednesday.
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Mitch Keppy, OL, 6-5, 287, Riverdale High School (Port Byron, Ill.)
Cameron Wilson, WR, 6-2, 193, Jerome High School (Dublin, Ohio)
Drew Ott, DE, 6-4, 235, Giltner (Neb.) High School
Maurice Fleming Jr., CB, 6-1, 185, Curie High School (Chicago)
Connor Kornbrath, K/P, 6-7, 210, Bridgeport (W.V.) High School
Jaleel Johnson, DT, 6-4, 290, Montini High School (Westchester, Ill.)
Ryan Ward, OL, 6-6, 270, Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
Laron Taylor, LB, 6-0, 205, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)
Ruben Lile, S, 6-3, 200 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)
Greg Mabin, WR, 6-2, 190 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Daumantas Venckus, DE, 6-4, 220 Cypress Bay (Weston, Fla.)
Faith Ekakitie, DL, 6-3, 285 Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy
Kevin Buford, CB, 5-10, 165 Canton (Mich.) High School
Anthony Morgan, S, 6-1, 185 Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Tevaun Smith, WR, 6-2, 186 Kent (Conn.) School/Chaminade College High School (Toronto)
Cody Sokol, QB, 6-2, 210 Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College
Greg Garmon, RB, 6-2, 200 McDowell High School (Erie, Pa.)
Eric Simmons, OL, 6-3, 300 Iowa Western Community College/Madrid
Barkley Hill, RB, 6-0, 190 Cedar Falls High School
Nate Meier, RB, 6-2, 235 Fremont-Mills High School
Alex Kozan, OG, 6-4, 295 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
C.J. Beathard, QB, 6-2, 180 Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, Tenn.)
