Photos Courtesy of Jeff Yoder

A pair of Southeast Iowa football standouts are off the class of 2022 recruiting board with Highland’s Connor Grinstead and Eli Slaymaker recently announcing their destinations this fall. 

Grinstead announced this week on social media that he has committed to play in Fayette for Upper Iowa University. The Peacocks are a NCAA Division II program a part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The dual threat quarterback ran for 908 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Huskies this fall and threw for 638 yards with 10 scores. He led the team with 64.5 tackles on the other side of the ball. The 6’0’’ 180 pound two-way player was a first team all district 5 selection in Class A and competed in the River Battle Bowl to cap off his prep career. 

Slaymaker announced on Twitter that he will be taking his talents to Indianola to compete for Simpson College. The Storm compete in the American Rivers Conference for NCAA Division III. The 6’4’’ 220 pound lineman missed most of his senior season due to injury, but received the golden spike award for the league. As a junior, Slaymaker was a first-team all district selection by anchoring an offensive line that paved the way for 1,708 rushing yards.