One of the most integral parts of Iowa's surprising 12-2 season, quarterback C.J. Beathard successfully underwent hernia surgery and is expected to recover fully.

HawkeyeReport.com first learned Beathard had the surgery done in Philadelphia with Dr. William Meyers. The website pointed out the doctor had previously done procedures for a number of high profile pro football players.

His recovery time is expected to be six to eight weeks.

Casey Beathard, C.J.'s father, confirmed to Hawkeye Nation his son had the surgery and explained why the QB waited until the season was over to have it done when he apparently suffered the injury in week three.

"He's always been that kind of guy. He's just such a competitor, he never comes out. He won't come out because I think he's afraid he's going to lose his job. I think at times he was in a lot of pain," Casey Beathard said. "Iowa's training staff was great all season.

"And they didn't overlook it by any means. None of us knew. We thought it might be one of those things that would hamper him all season until he gets rest."

Casey Beathard told the website the family took him for an examination when C.J. was still experiencing pain well after Iowa's season concluded. His injury was technically a tear in his groin, but the procedure was called a hernia surgery.

Beathard may be able to play in Iowa's spring practices, but he is certainly expected to be ready for the summer activities and the start of the season, ESPN reported. He threw for 2,809 yards and 17 touchdowns this season en route to appearances in the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl, their only two losses of the season.

"That's why we're excited to see him healthy," Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said at his season-ending news conference earlier this month. "He was still able to throw the ball fine, but mobility is such a big thing in football."