Manu Tabbed Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
September 23, 2026 | Football
SEATTLE – Washington senior linebacker Jacob Manu has been named a semifinalist of the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.
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To be nominated for the Campbell Trophy, a student-athlete must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in 2026 or a graduate student who has already earned a degree. They must have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The nominee also has to have an outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship.
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Manu is one of 206 semifinalists, including 95 nominees from FBS. Last season, Jonah Coleman was named a finalist for the "academic Heisman."
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In the classroom, Manu boasts a 3.70 GPA while working toward his bachelor's degree in communication which he will earn in December. Manu was also named a 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar First Team selection and named to the 2024 Big 12 Fall Academic Honor Roll. Since arriving at Washington, he has made the UW Dean's List in four of five quarters.
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On the field, Manu was named a 2026 team captain, as voted on by his teammates. In three games thus far, he's tallied 22 tackled – to lead the team – including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. In the win over Washington State, Manu posted a team-high 11 tackles. During his time at Arizona, Manu was named a first team all-conference performer in 2023 when he led the Pac-12 in tackles (116) as he helped the Wildcats to a 10-3 record. In 2024, Manu played in seven games, with 47 tackles, three tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries before his season was cut short due to injury.
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The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and room rates at the Bellagio.
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To be nominated for the Campbell Trophy, a student-athlete must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in 2026 or a graduate student who has already earned a degree. They must have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The nominee also has to have an outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship.
Â
Manu is one of 206 semifinalists, including 95 nominees from FBS. Last season, Jonah Coleman was named a finalist for the "academic Heisman."
Â
In the classroom, Manu boasts a 3.70 GPA while working toward his bachelor's degree in communication which he will earn in December. Manu was also named a 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar First Team selection and named to the 2024 Big 12 Fall Academic Honor Roll. Since arriving at Washington, he has made the UW Dean's List in four of five quarters.
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On the field, Manu was named a 2026 team captain, as voted on by his teammates. In three games thus far, he's tallied 22 tackled – to lead the team – including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. In the win over Washington State, Manu posted a team-high 11 tackles. During his time at Arizona, Manu was named a first team all-conference performer in 2023 when he led the Pac-12 in tackles (116) as he helped the Wildcats to a 10-3 record. In 2024, Manu played in seven games, with 47 tackles, three tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries before his season was cut short due to injury.
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The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and room rates at the Bellagio.
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Players Mentioned
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