2023 OL Chris Terek flips commitment from Wisconsin to Notre Dame
Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West class of 2023 interior offensive lineman Chris Terek decommitted from Wisconsin and flipped his pledge to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday night.
Terek ranks as the No. 518 overall player and No. 43 interior offensive lineman according to the 2023 On3 Consensus. He originally committed to Wisconsin in late June over offers from Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and others.
He becomes Notre Dame’s 25th commitment of the 2023 cycle, and the Irish’s class ranks No. 3 according to the On3 Consensus Football Team Recruiting Rankings.
PROMOTION: Join for only $10 to unlock premium access until the start of the 2023 football season
How the flip came together
Terek originally committed to the Badgers June 29, 2022 after taking official visits to Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. On Oct. 2, Paul Chryst was fired as Wisconsin’s head coach, but Terek still seemed content with his Badgers’ pledge and didn’t have any plans on decommitting.
Notre Dame was set with its five offensive line commitments in the 2023 cycle, but Phoenix Pinnacle’s Elijah Paige flipped his allegiance to USC, opening up a spot. Position coach Harry Hiestand turned to Terek and offered the 6-6, 295-pounder a scholarship in October.
Terek announced on Twitter Oct. 19 that he picked up the Irish offer, but he received the news from the Notre Dame staff about a week or so before making the news public. And during this period, Terek unofficially visited Notre Dame Oct. 15 to see the Irish face Stanford.
“Notre Dame was the only other school that I was interested in going to visit,” Terek previously told Blue & Gold.
“The game was pretty crazy. It was unfortunate that they didn’t win, but the atmosphere was nuts. It’s an hour and 45 minutes for us to drive there, which is nice. The facilities were top-notch, and it’s definitely a unique campus. It was really nice.”
The Irish seemed to be in a good spot for the Chicagoland prospect over the next month, but much of Terek’s focus was on his senior season. He helped lead Glenbard West to an 11-2 record and a spot in the semifinals of the Illinois 8A state tournament.
News broke Sunday, Nov. 27 that Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell would be taking the same position at Wisconsin, and several hours afterwards, Terek announced his flip to the Fighting Irish.
Terek is expected to play on the interior of the offensive line for the Irish — likely at guard.
Notre Dame has flipped five players from other programs in the 2023 cycle: Terek (Wisconsin), running back Dylan Edwards (Kansas State), quarterback Kenny Minchey and defensive linemen Armel Mukam (Stanford) and Boubacar Traore (Boston College).
The Chris Terek file
He earned 2022 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 8A first-team all-state honors.
Terek was named the West Suburban Conference top offensive lineman and was listed on the West Suburban Silver All-Conference team.
He’s from the same high school that produced former Fighting Irish offensive lineman Chris Watt and is a childhood friend of Notre Dame class of 2024 wide receiver commit Cam Williams, who is also from the Glen Ellyn area. Williams attends Glenbard West High.
And Terek is a high school teammate of class of 2023 kicker Marcello Diomede, who is committed to Notre Dame as a preferred walk on.
Terek is a multi-sport athlete, as he’s also participated in wrestling and rugby.
