Friday at 4: Jack Swarbrick's time at Notre Dame marked by independence

Listed measurements: 6-foot-6, 295 pounds2023-24 year, eligibility: An incoming freshman, Terek has all four seasons of eligibility remaining.Depth Chart: Terek will come nowhere near Notre Dame's two-deep this season, needing to focus more on strength and conditioning while also getting a better feel for the idea of a move to an interior, something the Irish will at least consider with Terek.Recruiting: A long-time Wisconsin commit, Terek reconsidered his college destination when the Badgers abruptly and rather surprisingly fired Paul Chryst. The rivals.com four-star joined Notre Dame's class right about the exact same time Wisconsin was announcing the hiring of Luke Fickell.

"Notre Dame, they’ve got a pretty crazy track record," Terek told Inside ND Sports. They do very well with their O-linemen. (Former Irish offensive line) coach (Harry) Hiestand is awesome. And they seem like they’re really building something there."

WHAT WAS SAID WHEN TEREK SIGNED IN DECEMBER"His massive lower body — which Notre Dame strength and conditioning coordinator Matt Balis should enjoy molding — gives Terek ample power, something that Hiestand could turn loose on many Irish running plays. …

"Give Terek some time to develop physically before locking him into the two-deep anywhere."

NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS

A post shared by Chris (@cterek77)

2023 OUTLOOKDo not expect to hear Terek's name again until the spring. That is not a knock on him, not in any regard. Rather, it is an acknowledgment of what to expect from most freshmen offensive linemen and, in particular, what to expect from them when Notre Dame has 17 scholarship offensive linemen on the roster.

Five of them are freshmen, and while early enrollee Sam Pendleton could perhaps crack the paper version of a three-deep at center, none should press for playing time in 2023.

Terek, perhaps more than the others, will need the year with no expectations. He played right tackle in high school, and the Irish are likely to try him out on the interior. At 6-foot-5, he is not yet too long to play inside, but much more vertical growth could change that.

Learning the interior footwork will be enough of a task for Terek as a freshman, along with the usual strength and conditioning work.

DOWN THE ROADWith 17 scholarship offensive linemen knocking around, and three already committed in the next class, position competitions will be the norm moving forward, though there will naturally be front runners.

Current sophomore Billy Schrauth and fifth-year Andrew Kristofic should emerge as the starting guards this season. If Kristofic spurns his final year of eligibility in 2024, current junior Rocco Spindler should get next crack at a starting role.

Both Schrauth and Spindler could be around in 2025, with current junior Pat Coogan supplementing them if he has not grabbed hold at center. Only then can names like Terek, classmate Joe Otting and sophomore Ashton Craig begin to be considered.

All of which is to say, Notre Dame is in an enviable position. Offensive line talent is scarce on the transfer market. Individual players need to be staring at uphill trajectories like this if the program wants to be a genuine contender instead of just the 10th team into the expanded Playoff.

2023 Notre Dame signees Armel Mukam, Brenan Vernon, Sullivan Absher and Chris Terek are back on campus this weekend. pic.twitter.com/RYia3D0WfO

— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) April 22, 2023

WHY No? 75?Terek wore No. 77 in high school, but current sophomore Ty Chan owns those digits in the Irish locker room. With offensive linemen largely focused on numbers in the 70s, 75 is one of just two available numbers (along with No. 71).

Perhaps Terek drops to No. 67, but for this penciling him into the content calendar, 75 fits well enough.

2023 Notre Dame OL signee Chris Terek (@cterek77) hosted Marcus Freeman and Chansi Stuckey on Friday night. pic.twitter.com/wlRv24SH8r

— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) January 14, 2023

NOTRE DAME 99-TO-0The summer countdown begins anew, Rylie Mills to Deion ColzieNo. 99 Rylie Mills, senior defensive tackle, moving back inside from endNo. 98 Devan Houstan, early-enrolled four-star defensive tackleNo. 97 Gabriel Rubio, junior defensive tackle, one of three Irish DTs with notable experienceNo. 95 Tyson Ford, sophomore defensive tackle, up 30 pounds from a year agoNo. 92 Aidan Keanaaina, a senior defensive tackle now ‘fully healthy’ after a 2022 torn ACLNo. 91 Aiden Gobaira, sophomore defensive end, former four-star recruitNo. 90* Brenan Vernon, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruitNo. 90* Boubacar Traore, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruitNo. 88 Mitchell Evans, the next starter at ‘TE U’No. 86* Cooper Flanagan, incoming freshman tight end, four-star recruitNo. 85 Holden Staes, sophomore tight end, up 20 pounds in a yearNo. 84 Kevin Bauman, senior tight end coming off a torn ACLNo. 83 Jayden Thomas, junior receiver, probable No. 1 target in 2023No. 79 Tosh Baker, senior tackle, again a backup but next year …No. 78 Pat Coogan, junior interior offensive linemanNo. 77 Ty Chan, sophomore offensive tackle, former four-star recruitNo. 76 Joe Alt, first-team All-American left tackleRhode Island transfer safety Antonio Carter gives Notre Dame desperately needed backline depthPenn State RB transfer Devyn Ford gives Notre Dame newly-needed backfield depth, experience

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