The Birmingham Stallions signed offensive linemen Alex Akingbulu and Ilm Manning on Tuesday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Alex Akingbulu is six foot five and weighs 300 pounds. The 26-year-old from Carson, California, attended the Dallas Cowboys rookie minicamp in 2022. The Philadelphia Stars signed Akingbulu on May 31, 2022.
In 2022, he played five games at left tackle helping Philadelphia reach the USFL Championship game, where the Stars fell short to the Birmingham Stallions 33-30. Philadelphia averaged 184.0 passing yards per game, 103.4 rushing yards per game, 287.4 total yards per game, and 31 touchdowns.
The Washington Commanders signed Akingbulu on July 31, 2022. He spent two seasons on Washington’s practice squad. In 2023, he dressed for two regular season games. In 2024, an injury prevented him from playing in the preseason. The Commanders released him on August 14, 2024.
Collegiately, Akingbulu started at UCLA (2016-17) but did not see any action for the Bruins due to rehabbing an injury. Then, he transferred to Fresno State (2019-21) playing right tackle in 22 games for the Bulldogs. In 2021, He played 13 games.
Fresno State’s offense averaged 33.38 points per game, 137.2 rushing yards per game, 326.69 passing yards per game, 463.8 total yards per game, and 53 touchdowns finishing 10-3 in the season. He was named First Team All-Mountain West.
Ilm Manning is six foot two and weighs 294 pounds. The 24-year-old from Glendale, Arizona, signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. In 2023, he appeared in three preseason games. The 49ers released him on August 29, 2023. The Arizona Cardinals acquired Manning off waivers from the 49ers on August 30, 2023.
The Cardinals released him on October 2, 2023, and he re-signed with San Francisco on October 4, 2023. Later in the season, the Carolina Panthers signed Manning off of San Francisco’s practice squad on December 28, 2023. The Panthers released him on June 5, 2024.
The Seattle Seahawks signed Manning on July 24, 2024. In 2024, he played two preseason games, and the Seahawks released him on August 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Manning played five seasons at Hawaii (2018-22) playing left tackle in 62 games for the Rainbow Warriors. In 2022, Hawaii’s offense averaged 19.77 points per game, 137.2 rushing yards per game, 205.54 passing yards per game, 342.8 total yards per game, and 30 touchdowns.
