The Darian Mensah transfer saga is reaching its final stretch, and while the outcome remains in the hands of the courts, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: a return to Duke is all but off the table.
Over the weekend, Duke made a decisive move by bringing in former San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget from the transfer portal. Eget isn’t just another depth piece-he’s a proven starter who threw for over 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
That kind of production doesn’t land on your roster unless you expect him to compete for the QB1 spot right away. With Eget stepping in, and Dan Mahan still in the mix, the Blue Devils are clearly building their quarterback room with the expectation that Mensah won’t be back.
Meanwhile, the situation with Mensah continues to unfold. The former Duke standout, who earned second-team All-ACC honors after a monster season with nearly 4,000 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, entered the transfer portal just before the January 16 deadline.
All signs have pointed to Miami as his next destination, and it’s not hard to see why. Plug Mensah into an already loaded Hurricanes roster, and you’re looking at a team that could dominate the ACC and make another serious push in the College Football Playoff.
But there’s a legal wrinkle here. Duke is contesting Mensah’s ability to transfer, citing the terms of the agreement he signed with the school.
As of now, a temporary restraining order is keeping him in the portal-but it also prevents him from enrolling elsewhere or suiting up for another team. That status could change quickly, though, with a court hearing scheduled for Thursday.
That decision will either clear the path for Mensah to join the Hurricanes or force head coach Mario Cristobal to explore alternate plans at quarterback.
Cristobal, for his part, hasn’t stood still while waiting for the dust to settle. Miami has continued to retool its roster through the portal, landing high-impact talent across the board.
Edge rusher Damon Wilson II, who’s spent time at Missouri and Georgia, brings serious juice off the edge. Wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs, formerly of South Carolina, adds speed and versatility to the offense.
And defensive back Omar Thornton, a standout at Boston College, strengthens a secondary that’s already brimming with athleticism.
Still, the biggest piece of the puzzle remains Mensah. If Miami gets him, they don’t just get a quarterback-they get a leader, a playmaker, and a legitimate shot at winning it all. Thursday’s hearing won’t just determine where Mensah plays next-it could shift the entire balance of power in the ACC.