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Beathard flips to Iowa

Three-star quarterback C.J. Beathard has been verbally committed to Ole Miss since May, but there have been a lot of changes since then including a new coaching staff now led by Hugh Freeze with a new offense in place. After taking his official visit to Oxford and thinking things over, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Beathard decided to re-open things a bit and take a look around.

"He's been committed to Ole Miss for quite a while, but when the new coaches came in, they started putting in a different type of offense," said C.J.'s father, Casey Beathard. "They're going to run the zone read and that isn't really suited for him. He was recruited to play the pro-style offense and he's always kind of been a drop-back passer."

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Beathard's search for a college program with a pro-style offense eventually led him to Iowa, whose coaching staff was still looking for a high school quarterback this year. After watching the Tennessee native on film, Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe quickly made his way out for an in-home visit.

"Coach O'Keefe came down right away and spent a whole day with C.J. and we were very impressed with him," Casey Beathard said. "With all of those guys, there's just something about them that makes you feel like you've known them forever. C.J. felt very comfortable with Coach O'Keefe right away and he invited us to visit the campus, so we did."

The Hawkeyes hosted Beathard on an official visit over the weekend where he had a chance to tour the campus and facilities and get to know the coaches and players at Iowa. After returning home yesterday, the quarterback sat down with his family and made the decision to change his commitment to the Hawkeyes.

"I went down to Iowa this weekend and it just felt like home," said the high school senior. "I loved the coaches and felt like I've known them forever. I just felt it in my gut like it was the right thing to do, so I made the decision today. I decommitted from Ole Miss and committed to Iowa."

Beathard, who threw for 2,146 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, called O'Keefe along with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz this afternoon to give them the news.

"I spoke to both Coach Ferentz and Coach O'Keefe and I just told them I had a really good visit, I really like the place, and I'm ready to be a Hawkeye," Beathard said. "They were really excited and said they were glad to have me."

After agonizing over his decision for the last 24 hours, Beathard said it feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and he looks forward to enjoying signing day with his teammates at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, TN.

"It's a big relief," said Beathard. "It just feels right and I feel at peace now. It just had the right feeling when I was there and I still feel like that today."

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