Clayton Ollendieck took a chance on Iowa Central when they were willing to take a chance on him.

Now, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end from Crestwood has transformed himself into a hot commodity on the recruiting circuit while helping the Tritons succeed on the field.

Ollendieck came to Iowa Central after doing a little bit of everything in high school. He carried the ball, caught it and was a standout on the defensive side. 

But admits "nothing major" came to him in regards to continuing his playing career at the next level.

"I had little to no interest from college coaches," Ollendieck said. "A couple D3 schools in my area had mentioned opportunities. I decided to bet on myself and could not be more thankful for the opportunity that Coach (Jesse) Montalto and the rest of the Triton staff has given me.

"They gave me an opportunity to continue my football career when no one else did. On top of that, they gave me the tools and environment to succeed. When I came to the spring game in 2019, they did not have a single tight end. Their ability to adapt as an offense and put me in positions to be successful is something I will forever be grateful for."

Ollendieck has caught 11 passes for 98 yards and four touchdowns, including a three-TD game vs. Ellsworth. He also has showed dedication, recovering from a torn ACL to return to the field.

"I am a very strong believer in the weight room and how it translates to the football field," he said. "Many years of grinding and transforming my body, adding size and muscle has been my main focus going into college football. Habits and everyday discipline has also had a major impact on my success. Going into this year specifically I focused on the mental side of the game and making sure my mind and body was on the same page."

Recently, Ollendieck received an offer to play FBS Div. I football at Troy University. 

"Having an opportunity to play football at ah high level is something I have always dreamed of," he said. "A lot of hard work, tough days and heartbreak have built into this moment. I feel very blessed and proud of where I have come up from.

"My time here at Iowa Central has done nothing but make me a better person and athlete, and I owe it all to this coaching staff and school as a whole."

The Tritons take on Ellsworth Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

-By Dana Becker