After four seasons at Iowa, C.J. Beathard is going through the NFL Draft process with talent evaluators. As he does, he's getting guidance from his granddad, a former Redskins general manager.
Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard has an experienced NFL talent evaluator in his corner as he embarks on a journey from Iowa to the professional ranks.
His name is Bobby Beathard and he, of course, was the long-time general manager of the Washington Redskins.
Bobby spent 11 seasons in the position, as the Redskins averaged more than nine wins per season during that span. The team also posted a regular season winning percentage of .625 (105-63) in that time frame, best in the NFC and second-best in the NFL.
Additionally, no team during those 11 seasons posted a better postseason winning percentage than the Redskins, who went 11-3 in postseason play in his tenure for a winning percentage of .786 and won two Super Bowls.
"It's great, I mean he is one of the best that has ever done it and he knows how to evaluate talent; he is really good at that," C.J. told Redskins.com at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. "Also he is just one of the best role models that I've ever been around in my life. He is a guy that I love to death, is great to talk to about anything that I have a problem with or need help with, and he is always there with me."
While C.J. wasn't born until five years after his granddad left the Redskins, but he understood over time the stamp he left on the organization.
"Just being a kid out there with your cousins and brothers out there messing around and really growing up and realizing he was a pretty big deal in the NFL," Beathard said. "So it was really cool."
Beathard is one of six active quarterbacks participating in Senior Bowl practices this week in the hopes he'll be able to boost his draft stock.
In four seasons with the Hawkeyes, Beathard appeared in 41 games and totaled 5,562 passing yards with 40 touchdowns to just 18 interceptions. He also rushed for more than 400 yards and 10 touchdowns.
While his junior season was his best statistically (17 touchdowns to five interceptions), Beathard returned for a productive senior season in which he once again threw for 17 touchdowns passes.
Over the coming months, Beathard will get a more clear idea of his NFL suitors, but if he lands in Washington he'll have a least one familiar face on the field: Brandon Scherff.
The No. 5-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Scherff and Beathard were college teammates for two seasons.
Beathard said the two occasionally check in with each other through text, but if selected by the Redskins he knows that few defenders will be able to get by the team's starting right guard.
"That guy is as tough as nails and one of the hardest working guys I've ever been around," Beathard said. "A great leader, a great guy; a guy you go to war with. And that's the kind of guy you want to be around and build your team around."
