C.J. Beathard was a popular guy Saturday afternoon as reporters swarmed all around him during Iowa’s football media day, much like he was in the eyes of most Hawkeye fans last fall when he served as the No. 2 quarterback to then incumbent Jake Rudock.

But Rudock’s gone now, off to what he hopes are greener pastures at Michigan, and so are the long blonde locks that Beathard once donned that earned him the nickname “Sunshine,” much to the enjoyment of so many that pledge their allegiance to the program.

This 2.0 version of Beathard is more serious – in his appearance and his approach to the game. He’ll have to be, too.

For better or worse, this is Beathard’s team now. And the Hawkeyes will likely go only as far as their quarterback can take them in 2015.

“When you play quarterback, there’s a responsibility that goes with it,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I think (Beathard’s) embraced it. He’s excited about it.”

Beathard toiled behind Rudock for two years, only picking up the table scraps either late in games or when Rudock was injured. He directed a come-from-behind road win over Pittsburgh last season, and the following week got the start in place of the injured Rudock and helped Iowa blow by Purdue.

He’s a wheeler and dealer with a cannon for a right arm, not afraid to chuck the ball down the field into coverage. He’s also more than capable of scrambling out of the pocket and picking up chunks of yards.

Rudock was a singles hitter, and the boos grew louder with each 3-yard check down pass he threw. Beathard is that home run thumper that Hawkeye fans have been clamoring for.

The fans finally got what they wanted in January when Ferentz let it be known that Beathard would be the guy going forward. Rudock was more than welcome to stay, but he read between the lines and starting shopping for another home.

Did Beathard really do enough in practice and on the field to move past Rudock? Or was it simply a case of Ferentz and offensive coordinator Greg Davis attempting to inject some life into a stagnant offense that was ulcer-inducing at times in 2014?

“A couple days after the bowl game, coach (Ferentz) called me and told me pretty much I had the nod,” Beathard said. “He just told me how we were going into the offseason and spring ball with me being the guy. It was a sense of relief I guess. At some point you want to take that turn and be the guy. Everyone wants that opportunity.”

With a young offensive line in front of him, a slew of running backs behind him that have been injury prone in the past, and a batch of receivers that haven’t exactly lit the world on fire, a lot will be heaped on Beathard’s shoulders this fall. The conservative Ferentz will demand intelligence and composure out of his quarterback, but he’ll also need Beathard to put on a magic show or two.

Oh yeah, he’ll also have to do all of that while avoiding injury. His back-up, redshirt freshman Tyler Wiegers, has a grand total of zero passes to his credit.

Can Beathard pull it off? Sure he can. It’s not like Iowa’s schedule will make anyone shake in their boots. No Ohio State. No Michigan. No Michigan State. No Penn State.

On the flip side, there aren’t any games where the Hawkeyes can just show up and pencil in a win either.

Season-opening opponent Illinois State will come to Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 5 expecting to pull of the upset. Coming off a runner-up national finish, the FCS Redbirds are ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll.

Next is a trip to Ames to face Iowa State – a rivalry game that has tipped cardinal and gold in recent years.

On and on it goes. Iowa could conceivably win nine games, but it could just as easily lose eight if Beathard doesn’t fulfill the lofty expectations that could become more of a burden than anything else.

One thing is clear though – he’s Ferentz’s guy.

“The way he’s grown, the way he’s accepted being a leader, it’s very, very clear,” Ferentz said. “He’s just a totally different guy. His demeanor is different, and he’s a much more mature guy and he’s accepted the responsibility.”

If Beathard is intimidated by the journey that could be bumpy at times, he did a good job of hiding it on Saturday. He showed that poise that Ferentz loves, in front of cameras anyway.

“This is what I came here to do,” Beathard said. “I’m surrounded by good teammates who are excited to show people what we can do as a team.”

The team will have to be good. And Beathard will have to be even better.

No pressure, Sunshine.