Grant Leeper bet on himself. It paid off.

The Class of 2023 tight end from Fort Wayne (IN) Homestead High verbally committed to Iowa Football as a gray shirt on Monday. He picked up the offer last week.

Leeper (6-6, 215) could have signed with a smaller school last month during the early period. Instead, he waited for schools like Iowa, Indiana and Wake Forest, who jumped in with offers in January.

“It’s a big relief,” Leeper told HF finding a home with the Hawkeyes after officially visiting during the weekend. “I’m ready to get to work.”

Home-state Indiana offered a gray-shirt opportunity on the same day Iowa did last week. Wake Forest offered last week as well. He officially visited the Demon Deacons on Thursday and Friday before arriving at Iowa on Saturday.

“The players stood out to me the most,” Leeper said of his Hawkeye official. “They were the people that I want to be around every day.”

True freshman tight end Addison Ostrenga played host to him on his Iowa visit.

“We got along great,” Leeper said.

A gray shirt means that Leeper would pay for his schooling at Iowa during the ’23 Fall semester before going on scholarship in January. He could not practice with the team until then.

There is a chance he could receive a scholarship for the ’23 season if one opens up.

“There is a high possibility of getting on scholarship before the season,” Leeper said.

Leeper averaged 14 yards per catch and scored six touchdowns as a senior in ’22. It was his first season playing high school football.

2024 Illinois offensive lineman commits to Iowa: In addition to Leeper’s commitment, Iowa also received a verbal commitment from 2024 Illinois offensive lineman Josh Janowski.

The 6-3, 270-pound Janowski is from the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, Illinois and he attends Lincoln Way East High School.

Janowski announced his commitment to Iowa via Twitter on Monday.

https://twitter.com/JanowskiJosh/status/1620126586975719424?s=20&t=ReR13RrvmOnRcKrALmcfzA