After a standout season at Duke, quarterback Darian Mensah hit the transfer portal with two seasons of remaining eligibility. The former Tulane transfer completed 66.8% of his throws with 34 touchdowns and six interceptions, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in touchdown passes.
Duke QB Darian Mensah Enters the Transfer Portal
Mensah entered the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag. Normally, that means that he already knows which school will sign him. Now, he could be waiting for the conclusion of the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Mensah left New Orleans for Durham due to a reported $8 million contract.
Mensah arrived at Tulane as the No. 112 quarterback in his high school recruiting class, according to 24/7 Sports. He redshirted his first season with the Green Wave. When he took the field in 2024, his 2,723 yards helped Tulane reach the American Conference Championship game and a 9-4 record (Tulane went 9-5 in the season, however, Mensah did not play in the Bowl game).
During his lone season at Duke, Mensah assisted head coach Manny Diaz in reaching the ACC Championship Game for the first time since 2013. Additionally, the Blue Devils’ nine victories mark the third time the football team has reached that plateau in the last 13 seasons.
No ACC quarterback had a better year, according to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Rankings. Mensah ranked No. 11, ahead of passers like Carson Beck, Drew Mestemaker, Ty Simpson, and Gunner Stockton. Accordingly, Mensah drew significant attention upon entering the portal.
Although Mensah’s next team is not yet confirmed, speculation began as soon as he entered the portal. Some analysts project the University of Miami as a likely destination, and this prediction lines up with the theory that Mensah is waiting before officially committing.
The Hurricanes face the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday, and announcing his choice beforehand could complicate Miami’s preparations. Instead, he chooses to wait until the game’s conclusion, potentially.
While Miami looks like a sound end result, the man who initially started Mensah is still looking for a quarterback. While Jon Sumrall did land former Georgia Tech backup Aaron Philo, he knows Mensah and is familiar with his skill set. Mensah is a class dropback passer who will move the pocket to throw the ball. He doesn’t refuse to run; he just places a higher priority on his receivers working back in his direction.
Meanwhile, Diaz must find a new quarterback. Mensah’s departure leaves Diaz with three inexperienced freshmen: Dan Mahan, Lawrence Gardner, and Trey Walker III. While Mensah may not be the top domino, he could prove an important one.
