The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/544673
PREP PROFILES South Dakota Lineman Is Looking For The Right Fit With four four-star linemen already committed to Michigan in the 2016 class, the coaching staff can afford to be picky while looking for a fifth. Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington offensive tackle Matt Farniok could potentially be that player. The 6-5, 319-pounder is a four-star prospect, ranked as the No. 23 of- fensive tackle in the land. Farniok picked up his U-M offer June 18 and immediately con- sidered the Wol- verines E v e n b e f o r e the offer, Farniok wore a Wolverines hat during a photo session at the Rivals100 Five-Star Chal- lenge in Baltimore, so the Maize and Blue are definitely on his mind. "I want to find a school where I fit," Farniok said. "Where I get along with coaches and players, a place with a really strong football background and a school with very good academics." He didn't mention any school spe- cifically in his explanation of what he wanted in a college, but Michigan cer- tainly checks all of his boxes. The Farniok family is well versed when it comes to the recruiting pro- cess. Matt's older brothers, Tom and Derek, both played in the Big 12. Tom, a center, graduated from Iowa State and signed with the Minnesota Vi- kings, while Derek is getting ready to play his final season as an offensive tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Farnioks' father and uncle also played college football at St. Cloud State and South Dakota State, respec- tively. Due to all of this experience in the family, Matt feels comfortable with the world of recruiting. "It really helped to prepare me when my broth- ers started to go through the pro- cess," he said. " W h e n t h e y started hearing from the top-end Division I schools, I was able to get a sniff of what real football at that level is like. "To know what is exaggerated by schools and what is truthful, it helps sort out some things." Farniok plans to trim his list of schools by the end of the summer — the contenders also include Florida State, Florida, Stanford, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State — and visit his group of finalists after his se- nior season. He expects to make a final decision in the winter sometime. That Farniok has a plan set out for his recruitment should come as no sur- prise given the wealth of knowledge he can tap into with his brothers. He'll be in their position soon enough, and Michigan should be in the mix. — Brandon Brown ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Washington Sioux Falls, S.D. Class: 2016 Position: Offensive tackle Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 319 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 23 offensive tackle in the country Matt Farniok