Jedd Fisch and linebacker Jacob Manu share a relationship that stretches back long before either of them arrived with the Washington Huskies.

While the head coach showed the depth of that bond in November 2025, utilizing the Arizona transfer's fourth and final game of his redshirt season while he recovered from a torn ACL to keep a promise to his family and play him inside the Rose Bowl against the UCLA Bruins, that was just the tip of the iceberg.

In an interview with the Big Ten Network, Manu detailed why reuniting with Fisch at Washington out of the transfer portal was an easy choice.

"It meant a lot to have Coach Fisch by my side going through my recovery," Manu said. "He was just always right there, keeping my mental right, making sure I was good."

Fisch's investment in Manu on and off the field has paid off for the Huskies in the middle of their defense this fall. The fifth-year is tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks, second on the team with 40 tackles, while his 3.5 tackles for loss are No. 4 on defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' unit.

"My relationship with Coach Fisch evolved a lot over the years," Manu added. "I've been with him for so long, I feel like we're just super close now; he's like a second father figure to me."