Xavier High School quarterback Reggie Schulte has accepted an invitation to join the University of Northern Iowa football team as a preferred walk-on.

Schulte helped the Saints compile a 13-1 record and reach the championship game of the Class 4A playoffs this fall. He was named all-state by the Iowa Newspaper Association, the Des Moines Register and IowaPreps.com and has been selected for the 2013 Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star game.

Schulte passed for 2,501 yards and 37 touchdowns with only eight interceptions this past season and broke numerous school records.

Three other members of the Xavier football team have committed to college programs as well.

Trey Sampson, a first team all-state defensive back, will play at Wayne State (Neb.). Sampson intercepted eight passes this season and was part of a stellar defensive unit at Xavier.

Emiliano Martinez, a third team all-state defensive lineman, has committed to St. Thomas (Minn.) University. Martinez made 20 solo tackles for the Saints.

Drew Scott will be joining the Kansas State Wildcats as a long snapper.

It could be several years before Schulte gets a chance to play at Northern Iowa. Sawyer Kollmorgen was UNI's starting quarterback this past season as a redshirt freshman and received several national awards for his performances.

If Kollmorgen stays healthy, he'll probably be the starting quarterback in 2013, 2014 and 2015 before the job is open in 2016. By then, Schulte would be a redshirt junior.

Schulte is aware he could have to wait a long time to play, but he's excited about the challenge of competing at the NCAA Division I level in the FCS Division.

"For me, it kind of came down to playing against the best and seeing how good I really was," he said. "I want to test my true talents, I guess.

"Sawyer Kollmorgen is a really great quarterback and he's really deserving of all those honors he got. There obviously are some other great quarterbacks on the roster, too.

"Like I said, I felt UNI would probably be the best fit. I'm looking forward to going there."

Schulte said he also considered Truman State, an NCAA Division II school in Missouri, and St. Thomas University, a Division III school in Minnesota.

Schulte said he's excited about working with Mario Verduzco, the quarterbacks coach at Northern Iowa who has helped produce a string of top passers for the Panthers. Schulte has attended two UNI summer camps and has gotten to know Verduzco.

"He's one of the reasons I chose to go there," said Schulte. "He's a real fiery coach, loves football. He's a great coach and I'm looking forward to working with him."