Washington football LB Jacob Manu named Campbell Trophy semifinalist

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Washington has a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist for the second consecutive year.

Huskies linebacker Jacob Manu was among the 206 semifinalists recognized for the award on Wednesday. The Campbell Trophy, known colloquially as the Academic Heisman, awards the athlete who best combines athletic, academic, and leadership success.

Manu, who was named a team captain this offseason and has been named to Washington's Dean's List in four of the five quarters he has been enrolled on Montlake, is the second consecutive player who followed head coach Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington to be nominated for the award. Running back Jonah Coleman was one of sixteen finalists for the award last season, the first Husky finalist since Elijah Molden in 2020.

Manu played in only five games last season after transferring in from Arizona, where he suffered a torn ACL midway through the season in 2024. Washington brought him along slowly to see if the NCAA would change its eligibility rules midseason last year and allow Manu a fifth season regardless of his experience on Montlake, but the 5-in-5 eligibility rule was not passed until the summer. With no limitations this season, the fifth-year linebacker is Washington's second-leading tackler through three games with 21. He has also accrued 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a quarterback hit while being one of the Huskies' most impactful defenders against the run.

Outside the football field, Manu is a communications major with a 3.7 GPA and was named to the 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar First Team in June, alongside Coleman, cornerback Ephesians Prysock, and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Manu was also a 2024 Big 12 Fall Academic Honor Roll honoree at Arizona.

The field of 206 semifinalists is the largest in the award's history, eclipsing the previous record of 204 in 2024. It includes 98 players who have already received their undergraduate degree, 24 All-Americans, 130 team captains, and combines to hold an average 3.64 GPA.

Finalists for the award will be announced in late October.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington football LB Jacob Manu named Campbell Trophy semifinalist

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