Washington Adds Much Needed Help at LB, Land Former Arizona Standout Manu

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Lars Hanson | Last updated Dec 20, 2024 8:39 PM ET

The numbers would have made it hard for Jacob Manu to carve out a spot in between Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener for playing time in 2024.

Instead, the former Arizona Wildcats captain will instead aim to continue on the expectations of the two in 2025 at Washington, announcing his decision to spend his final season of eligibility under his first coach, Jedd Fisch.

The 5-foot-11, 223-pound California native Manu, an All-Pac-12 First Team selection in 2023, becomes the eighth player to announce their transfer to UW this month and the second of the day on Friday following ex-USC tight end Kade Eldridge making his decision public.

Manu, a three-star recruit out of Servite High School in Southern California in the 2022 that class, recorded 217 total tackles (91 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception in 32 career games for the Wildcats.

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Part of the foundation-laying 2022 class that included star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, four-star cornerback Ephesians Prysock, four-star wide receiver Kevin Green Jr., and three-star defensive linemen Isaiah Ward and Russell Davis II. All but McMillan have since transferred to UW among that list of former Arizona players.

With both senior starters Bruner and Tupuotala set to finish their careers after the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, Huskies' linebackers coach Robert Bala needed to add a veteran experienced player at the position with another young wave of recruits coming in next spring to compete for playing time in 2025, specifically four-star Zaydrius Rainey-Sale.

Manu joins Kansas State offensive tackle Carver Willis, Oklahoma center/guard Geirean Hatchett, tight end Kade Eldridge, Utah defensive tackle Simote Pepa, Western Michigan defensive lineman Anterio Thompson, Northern Arizona safety Alex McLaughlin and Utah Tech long snapper Ryan Kean as the eight players to publicly announce their transfer to UW since the portal opened Dec. 9.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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