Beathard not 100 percent, but still doing everything

IOWA CITY — Wednesday was Iowa's fourth practice of spring football. The Hawkeyes were in pads and the quarterbacks were hitting.

They were hitting the ground. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis tossed footballs over their shoulders, and the Iowa quarterbacks hit the FieldTurf scrambling for the loose ball. They all did this, even senior C.J. Beathard.

This might not seem noteworthy, but keep in mind Beathard had sports hernia surgery in January. So, yes, Beathard is the returning starter and was named second-team all-Big Ten after leading Iowa to the Big Ten West Division title and a berth in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 25 years. There's all that, but with the injury this isn't a routine spring for Beathard.

So far, so good, he said Wednesday.

'I've been doing everything everyone else has been doing,' said Beathard, who completed 223 of 362 for 2,809 yards (61.6 percent), 17 TDs, five interceptions and a pass efficiency of 139.52 (highest for an Iowa QB since 2010). 'I'm feeling all right. I'm not 100 percent, but I'm getting there slowly but surely. It's been getting better and better.'

But he's not quite out of the woods ... but he did do everything the other QBs did in the early part of Wednesday's practice.

'Yes, it's a different feeling,' Beathard said. 'What's bothering me now is from the surgery. I don't think it's the same pain that was there before, so that's good.'

Beathard had his surgery performed by Dr. William C. Meyers in Philadelphia, Pa., in late January. Meyers is nationally recognized as a pioneer in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of core muscle injuries. Beathard's father, Casey, termed the surgery 'very successful.'

Beathard grew tired of the stop/start to the healing process he endured last season. In October, Beathard suffered through visible pain during a few games and missed a lot of practice leading up to the Northwestern game on Oct. 17. He hopes the surgery can complete the healing.

'I just wanted to get it out of the way,' said Beathard, who put up more rush attempts than any QB during Kirk Ferentz's 17 seasons at Iowa and tied the Ferentz-era QB record for rushing TDs with six (Nathan Chandler also had six in 2003). 'I didn't want to go back to resting it for a few weeks and then having nothing happen. I thought I might as well get it out of the way, get it over with and move on.'

Along with residual soreness, Beathard faces a new role this spring. Last March, he was the newly installed No. 1 quarterback, moving into the spot over Jake Rudock in January. So, Beathard was the new guy who had a little proving to do.

This spring, he's the undisputed No. 1, permanent captain and leader-type guy. Beathard also is tasked with bringing along an inexperienced wide receiver/tight ends core. After senior WR Matt VandeBerg (65 receptions in 2015) and senior TE George Kittle (20 receptions, six TDs last year), it's a largely unproven group.

'I have to help them learn because they don't know as much as the older receivers or as much as I do,' Beathard said. 'They're going to make mistakes out there and that's kind of what spring ball is for. Anyway I can help them with their routes and their depths, it's beneficial for them.'

Beathard talked about a few of the up-and-coming wide receivers, including sophomore Jay Scheel. Scheel, a Union High School product, began last season injured and didn't really get out of the blocks.

'He's definitely healthy now,' Beathard said. 'I think the coaches and teammates saw him make a lot of catches on scout team last year. He made a lot of one-handed catches a lot of guys can't make. He has a lot of talent. He and Jerminic (Smith, who had six catches as a true freshman) are doing a good job getting the offense down to a T, to where I can trust them out there.'

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