Arizona linebacker could be Big 12 Conference’s most underrated defensive player

Headed into the 2024 season, Arizona’s roster is stacked with projected first-round picks on both sides of the ball — on defense most of that attention has been centered on cornerback Tacario Davis but linebacker Jacob Manu could make just as big of an impact.

College Football News put the 5-foot-11, 225-pound Manu at No. 15 on its preseason rankings of the Top 25 players in the Big 12 Confererence in 2024 after he earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2023.

Manu is one of several stars on the Arizona roster from Servite (Calif.) High, alongside quarterback Noah Fifta and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Manu led the Pac-12 with 116 tackles in 2023 — he also started seven games in 2022.

Manu was one of the core group who decided to stay and play for the Wildcats in 2024 for new coach Brent Brennan after head coach Jedd Fisch left to become the coach at Washington.