2023 OL Chris Terek Remains Torn Between Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Chris Terek is legitimately torn.
The 2023 Illinois offensive lineman committed to Wisconsin in June.
Badgers head coach Paul Chryst was fired at the beginning of October, but perhaps the more pivotal event came a couple weeks earlier when Arizona offensive lineman Elijah Paige decommitted from Notre Dame.
The Irish identified the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Terek as the prospect they wanted to bring in as Paige’s replacement.
That eventually led to an unofficial visit to South Bend for the Stanford game, where a scholarship offer was extended.
“It is a big deal for me,” Terek said. “It's an honor to get an offer from a school like Notre Dame. I was super excited. I enjoyed my visit there.
“Everything was super cool; the atmosphere there, a lot of tradition and the campus was awesome.”
After rebuffing multiple other schools that came calling after Chryst’s dismissal, the Glenbard West High School standout finds himself deciding between the Irish and the Badgers.
“I don't know,” he admitted to ISD. “It's a weird situation.
“I loved Wisconsin when I was there, and now everything going on there and then Notre Dame, obviously, I never had an offer from Notre Dame when I committed to Wisconsin. It's tough right now.”
The Notre Dame staff is hoping to get Terek back down for an official visit for the Clemson game this weekend, which – per ND’s own policy – would require him to decommit from the Badgers.
“They want me,” he said of the Irish. “They want me to come for an official visit. They really want me to come there.”
Meanwhile, Wisconsin is trying to hang on to him.
“Obviously, I committed to them in the first place,” Terek said. “I knew they believed in me. They're just pitching that nothing's changing. That's the main thing I'm worried about, coaching staff changes and all that stuff.
“Even with Coach Chryst gone. Obviously, I thought he was going to be my head coach, but it's more of just everything else that's going happen too, so I don't really know.”
For his part, Terek is trying to keep his focus on Glenbard West’s playoff run, which opened with a 38-7 victory over Lockport on Saturday.
It may be a few weeks before he comes up with a decision.
“I'm just getting through everything.”
Under Armour Navy Fighting Irish Sideline Pullover Hoodie ($79.99 $59.99)
