Manny Diaz still isn’t done talking about the transfer window that helped reshape Duke’s quarterback room and send two of his best offensive players to Miami.
This week, the Blue Devils coach argued that schools should be paid when they develop players who leave for other programs, pointing to the European soccer model during an appearance on On3’s Andy Ari On3 show.
“If you sign a bunch of great recruits and you develop them and they go somewhere else, I'll go back to European soccer," Diaz said. "You should receive a transfer fee."
The idea surfaced against the backdrop of Duke’s 4-1 start and a narrow loss at Georgia Tech, but it also lands months after quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate left Durham for Miami after helping Duke win the 2025 ACC championship.
Diaz has been consistent about where he sees the problem. Since Mensah’s January departure, he has pointed to the structure of the current transfer portal rules rather than any single school.
In March, he said the program had "moved on" and called the portal "the new normal" in college football. Then at ACC Kickoff in July, he said "you can only say what you can prove" and made clear Duke’s complaint centered on the contract situation, not a specific program.
Mensah’s exit turned into a drawn-out dispute. He had publicly said he planned to return to Duke for a second season, then changed course on the final day of the portal window.
Duke responded by filing a lawsuit to try to enforce the terms of his NIL contract. The sides eventually settled, clearing the way for Mensah to complete the move to Miami.
He has started all five games there this season, and Barkate followed shortly after. Barkate caught 72 passes for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns as Mensah’s top target in 2025 and earned second-team All-ACC recognition.
Duke had to rebuild around San Jose State transfer Walker Eget, and so far the results have been steady. Through five games, Eget has thrown for 980 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. The Blue Devils opened with four straight wins, including a 31-27 road victory at Illinois and a 35-7 win over Stanford, before dropping a 28-25 game at Georgia Tech.
That loss came on a missed field goal in the final seconds after Duke had grabbed a late lead. The Blue Devils now turn to North Carolina on Saturday.
The numbers under Eget have been solid, though they don’t match the sheer volume Mensah delivered a year ago. In 2025, Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading the ACC in both categories.
Even without him, Duke’s offense has still produced 34.0 points per game this season, while the defense has held opponents to 14.4 points per game.
Mensah arrived from Tulane and helped Duke win its first outright ACC title since 1962, then earned second-team All-ACC honors and MVP of the championship game against Virginia. Barkate came over from Harvard and led the Blue Devils in receiving yards.
At Miami, both players have continued to make their presence felt. Mensah is directing an offense that ranks first nationally in scoring, while Barkate has 19 catches for 241 yards and four touchdowns through five games.
The next chance for this storyline to play out on the field comes Nov. 14, when Duke travels to Miami and reunites with Mensah and Barkate.
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Shannon Dawson has taken notice of the way Lofton is contributing beyond the box score, especially with his blocking and the physical edge he brings to the field. For Miami, that kind of all-around improvement matters because it shows Lofton is earning more trust in the areas that often keep a tight end on the field when the game gets tight. [Read more 🡒]