The Houston Gamblers signed wide receiver Julian Hicks and defensive back Eli Walker, and released defensive end Shaka Toney on Wednesday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Julian Hicks is six foot two and weighs 201 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2024. In 2024, he made one catch for 23 yards and one carry for 14 yards in three preseason games.
The Packers released him on August 27, 2024. He re-signed with the Packers on August 28, 2024, and spent the season on the practice squad. In 2025, he made five catches for 31 yards in three preseason games. The Packers released him on August 26, 2025.
Collegiately, Hicks played one season at Central Michigan in 2018 with 28 catches for 313 yards, four touchdowns, and one carry for 12 yards in 10 games for the Chippewas. Next, he transferred to Akron (2019-20) with 34 catches for 230 yards, two touchdowns, one carry for one yard, one kick return for 17 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 14 games for the Zips.
Then, he transferred to the University of Albany (2021-23) with 72 catches for 1,139 yards, 17 touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 23 games for the Great Danes. He was named Second Team All-CAA by Phil Steele and Second Team All-CAA.
Eli Walker is six foot two and weighs 202 pounds. The 28-year-old from Long Beach, California, signed with the Memphis Showboats on November 18, 2024. In 2025, he made 57 tackles (42 solos, 15 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception for two yards, and two pass breakups in 10 games.
Walker signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He would later play for the Blues (TSL) that same year. The Pittsburgh Maulers signed Walker as a free agent on April 22, 2022. In 2022, he made 15 tackles (5 solos, 10 assists) in seven games.
In 2023, Walker made 37 tackles (25 solos, 12 assists), one sack, one interception, two fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, and three pass breakups in ten games. In the 2023 USFL playoffs, Walker made seven tackles (6 solos, 1 assist) in two games, helping Pittsburgh reach the USFL Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions.
The Birmingham Stallions drafted Walker in the 2024 UFL Disposal Draft. The Stallions released him on February 14, 2024.
Collegiately, Walker played two seasons at Cerritos College (2015-16) with 117 tackles (67 solos, 50 assists), four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four interceptions for 65 yards, and six pass breakups in 20 games for the Falcons.
Then, he transferred to Kansas State (2017-18) with 89 tackles (69 solos, 20 assists), five tackles for loss, and one sack in 23 games for the Wildcats.
Shaka Toney is six foot two and weighs 238 pounds. The 28-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was drafted by the Houston Gamblers in the 2026 UFL Draft.
The Washington Football Team drafted Toney in the seventh round (246th pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in Washington with 16 tackles (6 solos, 10 assists), two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 26 games.
Washington released him on April 22, 2024. The Dallas Cowboys signed Toney on August 2, 2024. In 2024, he made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in one preseason game but suffered a groin injury and was released on August 22, 2024. The St. Louis Battlehawks signed Toney on June 4, 2025. In 2025, Toney did not appear in any games.
Collegiately, Toney played four seasons at Penn State (2017-20) with 112 tackles (59 solos, 57 assists), 30.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 47 games for the Nittany Lions. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2019 and First Team All-Big Ten in 2020.
