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ruler starting quarterback Darian Mensah Entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Mensah submitted his request for transfer paperwork on Friday, ahead of the midnight deadline for FBS and FCS players to enter the portal.
“This was not an easy decision, but after talking to my family, I believe it is in my best interest to enter the transfer portal,” Mensah. Said in a post on.
miami Mensah appears to be the expected favorite in recruitment when he becomes officially available. The Hurricanes have signed transfer quarterbacks in consecutive years – cam ward And carson beck – and haven’t landed a single one during the two-week transfer window that opened on January 2.
Mensah decided to return to Duke for his redshirt junior season on December 19 after exploring the possibility of entering the NFL Draft. Before his latest decision he was ranked No. 5 in Mel Kiper Jr.’s quarterback rankings for the 2026 draft.
The quarterback was entering the second year of a two-year deal with Duke that will pay him up to $4 million in 2026. If Mensah leaves Duke, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that his contract grants the university exclusive name, image and likeness rights to him, which could prevent Mensah from earning revenue-sharing money at his next school unless Duke terminates his deal.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound redshirt sophomore from San Luis Obispo, Calif., transferred from tulane For Duke following the 2024 season and led the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC championship since 1962 with a 27–20 overtime upset of No. 17. Virginia In the conference title game.
Mensah earned second-team All-ACC honors after producing a conference-leading 3,973 passing yards on 67% passing with 35 total touchdowns and six interceptions. He has started 27 career games at Tulane and Duke, and has two more years of eligibility.
If Mensah leaves the program on the final day of the NCAA transfer window, it will put coach Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils in a difficult position with few proven options available in the portal.
backup quarterback Henry Belin IV Has already entered the portal as a graduate transfer and has committed to missouri state On Thursday.
Duke concludes 9–5 season with 42–39 win arizona state Tony the Tiger on December 31 at the Sun Bowl.
