Jason Wolf

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

INDIANAPOLIS – C.J. Beathard walks into another room to interview with another team and invariably gets asked the same question.

“That’s always up there on the list,” the former Battle Ground Academy and Iowa quarterback said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Everybody I’ve talked to knows who my grandpa is and has a lot of respect for him.”

Beathard has quite a bit of fame in his family. His brother, Tucker Beathard, is a country music singer. His father, Casey Beathard, is a renowned country music songwriter. And his grandfather, former NFL general manager Bobby Beathard, the architect of four Super Bowl champions, gave him a bit of advice heading into the league’s annual prospect cattle call. Nothing specific. Just how the process works, what it’s like, and to stay positive and have a good attitude.

Beathard, who said he shares an agent with and has been training alongside Mitch Trubisky, the presumptive top quarterback in this year’s draft, is himself listed outside the top 10 quarterback prospects on most scouting websites, projected as a seventh-round selection at best. But he certainly doesn’t lack for confidence when it comes to how he stacks up against the other signal callers in this class.

“Obviously we haven’t done any throwing yet,” Beathard said, “but I’ve been around a lot of these guys over the past year, whether it be the Manning Academy, throwing with these guys, and then the Senior Bowl, as well. That’s why I’m out here. I’m not worried about these other guys. I’m out here to get better for myself.

“I’m trying to prove that I’m the best quarterback in this draft and all it takes is one team to give me a chance and that’s all I need is an opportunity and I know I’ll turn some heads with what I do. I’m confident in that.”

Beathard will participate in passing drills Saturday, but will not run the 40-yard dash or participate in agility drills after re-aggravating a hamstring injury at the Senior Bowl.

He said he will run the 40 at Iowa’s pro day.

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Beathard originally injured his hamstring in a 30-3 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl. He tossed three interceptions in the fourth quarter.

“I think that’s one of my attributes, is that I am a tough player,” Beathard said. “I’ve taken a lot of hits, been banged up, but I haven’t missed a game since I’ve been a starter. I think that’s something to say when you start talking to these coaches and guys.”

The 6-foot-2 Franklin native led the state in passing yards and touchdowns his junior and senior seasons in high school, then posted a 21-7 record at Iowa, where he didn’t miss a start over his final two seasons.

Beathard led Iowa to a 12-2 record and a Rose Bowl appearance as a junior, when he completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions. But his productivity dropped last season, when he completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,929 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Iowa finished 8-5.

“I’m not worried about that,” he said.

Beathard said playing in a pro-style offense is a “huge advantage,” that coaches and scouts see beyond the statistics and that the most valuable aspect of the combine may be the interview process.

“You can imagine, these guys, scouts, coaches ask you everything,” he said. “They really want to get down deep and get to know you. They really go as far as they want asking questions. Luckily for me, I’m clean. I haven’t failed any drug tests, got any tickets or been in jail before, so it’s pretty easy for me. … And then the football questions are even easier. I love talking about football and getting on the board with these coaches. That’s a big thing they want to see, your knowledge of the game. And that’s pretty easy for me.”

Reach Jason Wolf atjwolf@tennessean.comand follow him on Twitter at@JasonWolfand on Instagram and Snapchat atTitansBeat.

Key dates

NFL Combine: Runs through Monday

Free agency begins: Thursday

NFL Draft: April 27-29