It’s looking more and more like Notre Dame got a sneak peek at who’ll be leading the Miami Hurricanes offense when the Irish head south next fall. And if current signs hold, that quarterback will be Duke’s Darian Mensah.
Mensah announced he’s entering the transfer portal-right at the buzzer, on the final day he was eligible. While there’s still some legal and logistical red tape around whether he can officially make the move, most signs point to him landing in Coral Gables.
If that happens, Notre Dame will be facing a veteran signal-caller in his first year with the Hurricanes, a scenario that didn’t go so well for the Irish this past season when they faced Georgia transfer Carson Beck. But Mensah brings a different skill set to the table.
Why Darian Mensah Looks Like Miami’s Next QB1
Earlier this offseason, Mensah was weighing two options: declare for the 2026 NFL Draft or return to Duke for another year. In fact, he even released a video saying he’d be back in Durham. But plans change fast in college football, and now he’s in the portal with Miami as the expected destination.
Mensah’s résumé speaks for itself. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback transferred from Tulane to Duke after the 2024 season and immediately made history. He led the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC title since 1962, capping the season with a 27-20 overtime win over Virginia in the conference championship game.
His numbers were just as impressive as the results. Mensah threw for a conference-best 3,973 yards while completing nearly 67% of his passes.
He accounted for 35 total touchdowns and only six interceptions, earning second-team All-ACC honors in the process. Over his college career, he’s tallied more than 6,600 passing yards, 56 touchdowns, and just 12 picks-numbers that show both production and efficiency.
And while he’s not a true dual-threat quarterback, Mensah does bring more mobility than someone like Beck. At Tulane, he showed flashes of that athleticism, though his rushing totals took a hit at Duke due to sacks. Still, he’s capable of extending plays and keeping defenses honest.
The Hold-Up: Contract Complications
Here’s where things get tricky. According to reports, Duke believes Mensah is still under contract, which could complicate his move to Miami.
It’s a situation that mirrors what happened recently with Washington quarterback Demond Williams, who entered the portal only to reverse course and stay put. Ole Miss defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen is reportedly in a similar boat-under contract, but looking to transfer.
So while the expectation is that Mensah will suit up for the Hurricanes in 2026, nothing is official yet. If the deal does fall through, it’s unclear who Miami would turn to under center.
What This Means for Notre Dame
For now, Notre Dame can play the waiting game. But if Mensah does end up in Miami, the Irish will be staring down a highly efficient, battle-tested quarterback when they meet the Hurricanes next fall. He’s not the same type of passer as Beck, but he brings his own set of challenges-namely poise, accuracy, and just enough mobility to be dangerous.
In a year where the ACC is wide open and transfer quarterbacks are reshaping rosters across the board, this potential move could have major implications. Notre Dame will be watching closely-and preparing accordingly.