Darian Mensah isn’t pretending Miami’s offense has arrived.
The Hurricanes still beat Wake Forest 33-20, but the final 25 minutes told a different story than the early run of the game. Miami looked ready to pile on, then the attack stalled hard after Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher had to leave for stretches because of injuries. Mensah sees that dip, and he’s putting plenty of the responsibility on himself.
That’s the tone he brought into his media availability, where he also made clear he believes the offense has more in it. He said, “I think I just fit in this offense, and, you know, he calls the stuff that I like to do.”
The numbers back up how smoothly he’s operating. Mensah is completing 90% of his passes to start the season, and through three games he has more touchdowns, 11, than incompletions, eight. When Miami has someone open, he’s delivering the ball on time and in a spot that can turn into a big play.
The next step, though, is finding more reliable help around Toney. Mensah pointed to two names he thinks can rise into that role.
“I think there are a bunch of guys that could step up, but the two that come to mind are Dre Jacobs and Somourian Wingo. I think they're explosive playmakers, and they've got the opportunity, so it's their time to take advantage of it,” he said.
That answer stands out not just for who he mentioned, but for who he left out. Cooper Barkate was expected to be the No. 2 option in the passing game, yet his start has been modest: 10 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. That’s well below what he had done earlier in his career before arriving in Coral Gables.
Still, the names Mensah did cite make sense. Wingo brings obvious upside, while Jacobs has already shown he can produce. He had more than 30 catches and 500 yards at South Carolina last season, and he’s been through enough high-level football between the SEC and Florida State that the adjustment shouldn’t be too much for him.
For Miami, Week 4 is another chance to clean this up. Mensah knows the offense can play at a higher level, and he’s making it clear that getting there starts with him.
“At the end of the day, it's a mental thing more than anything to be less physical than you were in the previous two quarters,” he said. “I think that's on me to make sure that the guys are mentally prepared to be physically dominant.”
In Other News...
Miami Suddenly Has A Crucial Receiver Battle To Replace Joshua Moore
Joshua Moores season-ending upper-body injury has forced Miami to reshuffle its receiver plans at a moment when the offense could least afford another setback. With depth already a concern, the Hurricanes now have to find a way to keep the passing game moving without one of the players expected to help shoulder the load, and that puts a sharper spotlight on the receivers behind him.
Darian Mensah has already pointed to Vandrevius Jacobs and Somourian Wingo as the names most likely to rise into bigger roles, and their development now matters more than it did a week ago. Miami may also lean on other receivers to absorb some of the snaps and production, but the larger issue is whether the group can withstand another hit and still give the offense enough reliable options. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bains NFL Start Is Already Raising Tough Questions
Rueben Bain Jr.s first NFL season has already turned into a reminder that the jump from college dominance to the pro game is rarely smooth. The former Miami standout entered the year with plenty of buzz after a strong summer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but through two games he has not yet made much of an imprint, with limited pressure on the quarterback and only one tackle to show for it.
Bains situation has grown a little more complicated with word that he has been missing practice because of a possible shoulder issue, which only adds to the early uncertainty around his role. For the Bucs, the bigger question is not just when he gets healthy, but how he adapts from here, since some evaluators already believe he may need to tweak both his position and his approach to find the kind of success he had been projected to bring into the league. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Has An Early Chance With A Legacy Recruit Fans Will Notice
A familiar South Florida name is starting to draw more attention, and Miami is getting an early look at a prospect who could matter down the line. Justice Jones, a 2027 wide receiver and defensive back from Park Vista, has backed up the buzz with a strong senior season on both sides of the ball, while his recruiting list is beginning to expand beyond his current offers from Akron, Florida Atlantic and Lenoir Rhyne.
Miami will get Jones on campus for a gameday visit when the Hurricanes host Central Michigan, a chance to make an impression before the recruiting race gets any busier. He has also started to hear from more Power Five programs, and his emphasis on finding the right fit suggests the next steps will matter as much as the attention itself. [Read more 🡒]