The Arlington Renegades claimed offensive linemen Alex Akingbulu and Matt Farniok via waivers from the Birmingham Stallions on Thursday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Alex Akingbulu is six foot five and weighs 300 pounds. The 27-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. The Birmingham Stallions signed Akingbulu on December 3, 2024, and released him on March 20, 2025.
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.
Matt Farniok is six foot five and weighs 216 pounds. The 27-year-old from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (238th pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in Dallas playing 19 games, of which two were starts.
The Cowboys released him on August 29, 2023. Farniok also spent time with the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. The Birmingham Stallions signed Farniok on December 10, 2024, and released him on March 20, 2025.
Collegiately, Farniok played five seasons at Nebraska (2016-20) playing right guard, center, and right tackle in 39 games, of which 36 were starts for the Cornhuskers. In 2020, Nebraska averaged 391.5 total yards per game, 190.1 passing yards per game, 201.4 rushing yards per game, and 21 touchdowns finishing 3-5 for the season. Farniok was a two-time Team Captain, Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2020, and the Nebraska Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2019.
