Matt Farniok
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Farniok
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| current_team =Arlington Renegades
| number =71
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|9|26}}
| birth_place = Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 316
| high_school = Sioux Falls (SD) Washington
| college = Nebraska (2016–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 238
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Birmingham Stallions ({{UFL Year|2025}})*
- Arlington Renegades ({{UFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status =Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason = 2023
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 19
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 2
| pfr = FarnMa00
}}
Matt Farniok (born September 26, 1997) is an American professional football center for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Early life
Farniok attended Washington High School. As a sophomore, he became a starter at the offensive line. As a junior, he received Class 11AAA All-state and Sioux Falls Argus Leader's Elite 45 honors.
As a senior in 2015, Matt Farniok contributed to the team winning the state title. He received South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year, first-team Parade All-American, Class 11AAA All-state and Sioux Falls Argus Leader's Elite 45 honors.
Farniok was ranked as a three{{endash}}star recruit by 247Sports.com coming out of high school.{{Cite web |title=Matt Farniok Recruiting Profile |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Matt-Farniok-36817/high-school-60681/ |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=247Sports.com}} He committed to Nebraska on January 27, 2016.{{Cite web |title=Matt Farniok 247 |url=https://247sports.com/player/matt-farniok-36817/ |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=247Sports.com}}
College career
As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 7 games with 4 starts. He had 2 starts at right tackle and 2 starts at right guard.
As a sophomore, he was named the starter at right tackle, contributing to the team averaging 456.2 yards of total offense. As a junior, he started all 12 games at right tackle.
As a senior in 2020, the football season was reduced to 8 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He became one of 13 two-time captains in school history, while starting all 8 games on the offensive line. He started 7 contests at right guard and one contest at center.{{Cite web |last=Halprin |first=Dave |last2=Livesay |first2=Connor |date=May 1, 2021 |title=NFL Draft results 2021: The Dallas Cowboys select Matt Farniok with the 238th pick (7th round) |url=https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/platform/amp/2021/5/1/22414038/nfl-draft-results-2021-the-dallas-cowboys-select-matt-farniok-with-the-238th-pick-7th-round |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=Blogging the Boys}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 1/4
| weight = 311
| dash = 5.20
| ten split = 1.78
| twenty split = 3.07
| shuttle = 4.47
| cone drill = 7.19
| vertical = 33.0
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 9
| bench = 28
| arm span = 33 1/4
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017525&DraftYear=2021 |title=2021 NFL Draft Scout Matt Farniok College Football Profile |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2940325-matt-farniok-nfl-draft-2021-scouting-report-for-dallas-cowboys-ot |title=Matt Farniok NFL Draft 2021: Scouting Report for Dallas Cowboys OT |website=BleacherReport.com |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
Farniok was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (238th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=Former Washington Warrior Matt Farniok drafted by Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.keloland.com/top-stories/former-washington-warrior-matt-farniok-drafted-by-dallas-cowboys/amp/ |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=KELOLAND.com}} He signed a four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Jaimes, Farniok sign rookie contracts |url=https://247sports.com/college/nebraska/Article/Brenden-Jaimes-att-Farniok-sign-rookie-contracts-Los-Angeles-Chargers-Dallas-Cowboys-Nebraska-Huskers--165411689/ |access-date=May 14, 2021 |publisher=247sports}} As a rookie, he appeared in 12 games, playing mostly in kick protection on special teams. He was declared inactive for the Wild Card playoff game.
In 2022, he appeared in 7 games, starting two at left guard in place of an injured Connor McGovern. In addition to being a backup guard and center, he also acted as a blocking fullback in certain goal-line plays. His offensive snaps decreased after Jason Peters was promoted to the active roster in Week 3. He suffered a torn hamstring injury while blocking for an extra point attempt in the seventh game of the season, against the Detroit Lions. On October 26, 2022, Farniok was placed on injured reserve.
In the 2023 preseason, he fell on the depth chart behind rookies Asim Richards and T. J. Bass. He was waived on August 29, 2023.{{cite news|title=Cowboys announce 36 roster moves ahead of regular season|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-announce-36-roster-moves-ahead-of-regular-season|date=August 29, 2023|website=DallasCowboys.com}}
=Chicago Bears=
On September 7, 2023, Farniok was signed to the practice squad of the Chicago Bears.{{cite web|title=Chicago Bears have signed Matt Farniok to fill their 16-man practice squad|url=https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2023/8/30/23851775/chicago-bears-2023-16-man-practice-squad-rules-nfl-udfa-rookie-vested-vet-accrued-season-draft|work=Windy City Gridiron|publisher=SB Nation|date=September 7, 2023}} He was released on November 17.{{cite web |last1=Wiltfong Jr. |first1=Lester A. |title=Bears sign Doug Kramer to the practice squad |url=https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2023/11/17/23965785/chicago-bears-sign-doug-kramer-to-the-practice-squad-matt-farniok-illinois |website=Windy City Gridiron |access-date=18 November 2023}}
=Detroit Lions=
On December 5, 2023, Farniok was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Lions place DT Alim McNeill on I.R. in series of roster moves|url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/12/05/lions-roster-moves-alim-mcneill-injury-update-alualu-farniok-vildor/|work=Lions Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=December 5, 2023}} He was released on January 5, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Ely |title=NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/5/24 |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/01/nfl-practice-squad-updates-1-5-24 |website=Pro Football Rumors |access-date=6 January 2024}} On January 23, Farniok re–signed with Detroit on a practice squad contract.{{Cite web|title=Lions shake up the practice squad ahead of the NFC Championship|url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/23/detroit-lions-practice-squad-roster-moves-farniok-jermar/|access-date=January 25, 2024|website=lionswire.usatoday.com|language=en}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.{{cite web|title=Detroit Lions sign 11 players to futures contracts|url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/1/30/24056125/detroit-lions-sign-11-players-futures-contracts-2024-offseason|work=Pride of Detroit|publisher=SB Nation|date=January 30, 2024}} Farniok was waived by the Lions on July 24.{{cite web |last1=Risdon |first1=Jeff |title=Lions waive veteran OL at the start of training camp |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/07/24/detroit-lions-roster-move-waive-matt-farniok-training-camp/ |website=Lions Wire |access-date=25 July 2024}}
= Birmingham Stallions =
On December 10, 2024, Farniok signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |title=UFL Transactions |url=https://uflboard.com/ufl-transactions/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=UFLBoard.com |language=en-US}}
= Arlington Renegades =
On March 20, 2025, Farniok was claimed by the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |title=UFL Teams Finalize Rosters After Successful Training Camp |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/ufl-teams-finalize-rosters-after-successful-training-camp |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Farniok has three brothers who all played football at the NCAA Division I level, Derek, Tom, and Will.{{Cite web |title=Matt Farniok Bio |url=https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/matt-farniok/41601 |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=Nebraska Athletics}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/matt-farniok/41601 Nebraska Cornhuskers bio]
{{Cowboys2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farniok, Matt}}
Category:Players of American football from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Category:Washington High School (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) alumni
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Detroit Lions players