2023 OL Chris Terek Breaks Down Notre Dame Commitment
After being torn for the past several weeks, Chris Terek made the switch; flipping his commitment from Wisconsin to Notre Dame.
“I just felt the most comfortable there with the coaching staff, with everything going on right now at Wisconsin, especially,” the 2023 Illinois offensive lineman told Irish Sports Daily on Sunday.
“Just the tradition there, it's rich and great academics. It all just kind of seemed to be pointing to Notre Dame.”
Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and offensive line assistant Chris Watt played the biggest roles.
“I like Coach Hiestand a lot,” said Terek. “He's old school. He cares a lot about the offensive line, that's all he really cares about. He's great in that way. Coach Watt went to Glenbard West, my high school. I've always known Chris Watt and I've talked to him a bunch in the past.”
The Irish offered Terek last month and recruited him hard ever since, but always respected his space and gave him the time he needed to make his decision.
“They didn't put any pressure on me,” Terek said. “They gave me as much time as I wanted. They gave me a ton of time, actually. That just showed the character at Notre Dame.”
Terek was the only offensive lineman the Irish recruited over the last couple months to fill their fifth and final spot up front.
“It just really showed how much they want me and how they believe I can be an impact player in this class,” he said.
Terek made his announcement at virtually the same time Wisconsin announced Luke Fickell as its new head coach. He said the plan changing in Madison had “a little bit” to do with his choice, but wasn’t the deciding factor.
“For the past like week, I kind of knew I was going to Notre Dame, but then that just kind of drove it a little more, I guess you could say,” Terek added.
He still has a ton of respect for the Badgers’ program.
“I really enjoyed Wisconsin,” he said. “Obviously, I committed there. It was unfortunate what happened, but I'm happy where I'm at now.”
He’ll be back in South Bend for an official visit this coming weekend.
“I spent a whole day down there about a month ago and obviously, I learned a lot,” he said. “(I’m looking forward to) just really getting to meet the players, watch workouts and stuff like that, just learn more about the program.”
For now, he’s just happy to have the decision behind him.
“It's so nice. A lot of pressure off.”
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