Miami’s quarterback buzz keeps building around Darian Mensah, and now the Hurricanes transfer has landed on the Manning Award preseason watch list.
The announcement came Monday, putting Mensah in the mix for the honor given each January to the nation’s top quarterback after the College Football Playoffs and bowl season. The 21-year-old arrives in Coral Gables after a big year at Duke, where he led the ACC with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
Duke’s record was only 7-5 overall, but the Blue Devils still went 6-2 in league play and capped the season with a 27-20 overtime win over Virginia in the conference title game.
Mensah’s move to Miami came with a clear purpose. He transferred to “The U” this spring looking for a bigger stage, and he found one at a place that had just finished a 13-3 season and reached the National Championship game. Miami’s rise under Mario Cristobal had already turned heads, but the quarterback spot was an obvious hole the Hurricanes had to fill.
That’s where Mensah entered the picture, jumping in the portal just before the deadline and keeping Miami’s championship push alive for this season.
He now steps into a setup that looks built to stress defenses. Miami’s receiver group includes Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate, Joshua Moore, Daylyn Upshaw, Vandrevius Jacobs, Somourian Wingo, and Vance Spafford. Barkate also arrives with him from Duke.
Mensah’s deep-ball touch has made him one of the more dangerous downfield throwers in college football, and with that kind of arm talent plus this collection of targets, Miami could be looking at one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
The backfield gives him help, too. Mark Fletcher Jr. is back for his senior season, and he’ll be supported by CharMar Brown, Girard Pringle Jr., and freshman Javion Mallory.
Mensah has already stacked up a long list of preseason recognition, including ACC Preseason Player of the Year, ACC Preseason All-ACC team at quarterback, and watch-list spots for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and Davey O’Brien Award.
He’s also being mentioned early in the Heisman Trophy conversation, which tells you how high the expectations are around him entering the season.
Other Power Four quarterbacks on the Manning Award preseason watch list are North Carolina State’s CJ Bailey, UCF’s Alonza Barnett, Penn State’s Rocco Becht, Auburn’s Byrum Brown, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea, Utah’s Devon Dampier, Duke’s Walker Eget, Cincinnati JC French, Arizona’s Noah Fifita, Pitt’s Mason Heintschel, Indiana’s Josh Hoover, Illinois ’ Katin Houser, SMU’s Kevin Jennings, Wisconsin’s Colton Joseph, Cal’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutete, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey, USC’s Jayden Maiava, Texas ’ Arch Manning, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Iowa State’s Jaylen Raynor, Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, South Carolina’s LaNorris Seller, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, and Michigan’s Bryce Underwood.
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The bigger question now is whether Cypher stays in 2029 or moves up to 2028, a possibility that would ripple through Miamis recruiting board if it becomes reality. No decision has been made yet, and Cypher and his camp are expected to sort out his next steps after the high school season, leaving the Hurricanes to keep watching a situation that could shift their quarterback timeline. [Read more 🡒]