2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 78
Eddie Tuerk
- Position:
- OL
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 320
- Major:
- Exploratory Studies
- Hometown:
- La Grange, Ill.
- High School:
- Lyons Township
Pronunciation: TERK
2025 Redshirt Freshman
- Did not play in a game
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
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
