Washington Huskies Linebacker Named Semifinalist For Impressive Award

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The Washington Huskies football team is yet to play a game in Big Ten competition this season, but one of the best players on the team's defense is already moving on in contention for a national award.

On Wednesday, fifth-year linebacker Jacob Manu was announced as one of 206 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

Manu, who's in his second year with Washington, was named to the preseason watchlist for the award. The semifinalists include players at the NCAA and NAIA level.

The winner of the award, which is in its 37th year of existence, is determined by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Football Hall of Fame.

The award is given to the best all-around student athlete in the country and takes into account both the player's on-field performance and their potency in the classroom.

Manu, who's one of seven captains on the Huskies, is one of 130 captains, 95 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and 87 players with a 3.7 GPA or better among the semifinalists.

In addition to his potency in the classroom, the fifth-year linebacker has also been one of the team's best players on the field.

After missing most of last season with an injury, Manu has played in all three games for Washington this season. He has 22 total tackles (15 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks this season. He's third on the team in tackles for loss and second in sacks. Fourth-year safety and fellow captain Alex McLaughlin leads the team in both categories (three tackles for loss, two sacks).

Manu begun his career with the Arizona Wildcats. He played under current UW head coach, who was in the same role for the Wildcats at the time of Manu's enrollment.

Manu played three seasons with Arizona from 2022-24 and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2023, the last year of the old format of the conference before all but two teams left to join other conferences in a mass realignment.

Manu wasn't able to show his full potential with the Huskies in his first year in the Pacific Northwest, but the first three games of the year has shown what made him one of the most potent defenders in the "old" Pac-12 and one of the top gets in the transfer portal last offseason.

Manu will have a chance to strengthen his on-the-field case for the Campbell Trophy in the team's Big Ten opener against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 8 p.m. PT on Saturday at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

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