Pronunciation: TERK

2024 Freshman

• Played in one game and redshirted the season
• Made Illinois debut at Wrigley Field vs. Northwestern (11/30/24)

High School

• Four-star recruit by Rivals
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and On3
• Defensive lineman ranks: #36 (Rivals), #64 (ESPN), #73 (247Sports), #89 (On3)
• State of Illinois ranks: #13 (Rivals), #14 (ESPN), #20 (247Sports), #23 (On3)
• Played for head coach and former Illini Jon Beutjer at Lyons Township
• 2023 News-Gazette All-State First Team
• 2022 and 2023 IHSFCA 8A All-State Honorable Mention
• 2023 IHSFCA Academic All-State
• 2023 U.S. Army Bowl
• Three-time West Suburban Silver All-Conference
• 37 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, and 53 quarterback pressures as a senior
• 127 tackles, 119 quarterback pressures, 30.0 tackles for loss, and 19.0 sacks during his high school
• Honor Roll
• Also participated in track and field in high school, specializing in the shot put
• Offers included Cincinnati, Duke, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Northwestern, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin

Personal

• Born March 11, 2006
• Son of Ted and Jennifer Tuerk
• Three sisters, Eleanor, Imogene, and Margot
• Father, grandmother, two great grandfathers, and two great aunts attended the University of Illinois
• Grandfather, Ed Tuerk, played football at Northwestern
• Chose Illinois because, “Stay close to home, keep the talent in state, really genuine family feel throughout the whole staff, great campus life and college town, top-tier facilities and development for the NFL, playing in the Big Ten, and a world-class degree.”
• Majoring in exploratory studies