Matt Farniok

Honors & Awards
» Team Captain (2019 & 2020)
» Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (2020)
» Nebraska Offensive Lineman of the Year (2019)
» Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
» Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020; Spring 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2018, 2019, 2020)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2018, 2019, 2020)

2020 (Senior)
Matt Farniok, one of 13 two-time captains in Nebraska history, started every game on the offensive line as an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection in 2020. Farniok started seven games at right guard and one contest at center. By starting every game, Farniok stretched his streak to 32 consecutive starts, becoming just the 12th Husker offensive lineman to start 30 consecutive games. He made his first career start at right guard at No. 5 Ohio State and started at center for the first time in his career at Northwestern. He moved back to right guard for the final six games of the season. Farniok helped Nebraska total 620 yards of offense at Rutgers, and the Huskers ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing during the 2020 season.

2019 (Junior)
Farniok started every game at right tackle as a junior. A team captain and Nebraska’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, Farniok was a key part of an offensive line that helped NU rank third in the Big Ten in rushing offense and fifth in total offense.

Farniok was a major reason Nebraska produced its most yards ever in a Big Ten Conference game (690 yards at Illinois), while tying its most points in a Big Ten game (54 at Maryland). Against Illinois, the Huskers totaled 300 yards rushing and 300 yards passing for just the second time in school history en route to gaining the most yards in any conference game since 2007. Nebraska also set a school record for team completion percentage against Indiana (87.0 percent).

2018 (Sophomore)
Farniok started all 12 games at right tackle as a sophomore in 2018. The Huskers averaged 456.2 yards of total offense per game in 2018 - the program’s highest total in six years - while producing more than 560 yards of offense in four games. Farniok and the offensive line helped Nebraska post its highest point total (54 against Illinois) in a Big Ten Conference game since the Huskers joined the league in 2011. 

True freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez rewrote the Nebraska freshman record books while setting a school record with an average of 295.1 yards of total offense per game. NU also produced its first 1,000-yard receiver in school history in 2018 and had its first 1,000-yard rusher since 2014.

Farniok was a key reason the Huskers piled up 329 rushing yards and 565 total yards in the season opener with Colorado. Against Purdue, Farniok’s blocking helped pave the way for a Husker offense that totaled 582 yards, including a career-high 170 rushing yards from Devine Ozigbo. The Huskers followed up that performance with 518 yards of total offense at No. 16 Wisconsin. Farniok helped the Huskers total 659 yards against Minnesota, including three 100-yard rushers. Nebraska totaled 606 yards of offense in a win over Illinois, setting a school record by gaining at least 450 yards in seven consecutive games.

2017 (Redshirt Freshman)
Farniok was a key contributor to the Husker offensive line in 2017, appearing in seven games and earning four starts. One of two Huskers to start at multiple positions on the offensive line in 2017, Farniok earned starts at right tackle against Oregon and Northern Illinois and started at right guard against Northwestern and Minnesota. Farniok and the line helped the Huskers rank second in the Big Ten in passing (277.5 yards per game) while throwing for 3,330 yards, the fifth-highest total in Husker history. Stanley Morgan Jr. also set the Nebraska season receiving yards record (986) while JD Spielman posted the first 200-yard receiving game in school history against No. 9 Ohio State.

2016 (Redshirt)
Farniok redshirted and worked on the scout team offense. 

Before Nebraska (Washington HS)
Farniok helped Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D., to a state title in 2015.Farniok was a dominant blocker for Coach Chad Stadem's team as a senior, helping the offense produce better than 4,500 yards of total offense, including 230 rushing yards per game. His play helped the Warriors to an 11-1 record and the Class 11AAA state championship.

Farniok was the South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and the USA Today South Dakota Player of the Year, and was a first-team Parade All-American. He was a first-team all-state pick from the South Dakota Coaches Association and was also a member of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader's Elite 45 Football team.

He earned Class 11AAA all-state honors and Elite 45 selection as a junior despite Washington having a 3-6 record. He was also a key member of Washington's varsity squad as a sophomore in 2013.

Farniok played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January. A consensus choice as the top overall prospect in the state of South Dakota, Farniok was ranked as the No. 129 overall prospect by 247 Sports and checked in at No. 257 in the ESPN300. Farniok was a consensus pick as one of the top 25 offensive tackles in the country.  

Farniok also visited Michigan State and Iowa and had numerous offers including Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Penn State, Stanford and Wisconsin.

The Farniok family has a history of offensive line success. Matt's older brother, Tom, played at Iowa State from 2010 to 2014, starting for two seasons at center, while his brother, Derek, finished his career at Oklahoma in 2015, serving as a part-time starter at tackle for the Sooners.In addition to the Farniok brothers, Washington High also produced former Nebraska senior safety Nate Gerry.

Farniok also played basketball at Washington High, and was on the honor roll all four years.

Personal
Matt was born on Sept. 26, 1997, and is the son of Brad Farniok and Christine and Rich Jones. His father played collegiately at St. Cloud State, while he had older brothers who played at Iowa State and Oklahoma. His younger brother Will is a sophomore center at Nebraska. Matt completed his undergraduate work in criminology and criminal justice in May of 2020. He volunteered his time with Make-a-Wish, the Nebraska Football Road Race, Day of Service, Husker Heroes and local hospital visits.