Darian Mensah just shook up the college football landscape - again.
The Duke quarterback, fresh off a breakout season that saw him lead the Blue Devils to an improbable ACC title, announced Friday that he plans to enter the transfer portal. And while the move comes just ahead of the transfer deadline, it’s already sending ripples through the sport. According to multiple reports, Miami is emerging as the early front-runner to land the star signal-caller.
Mensah took to social media to thank Duke and its coaching staff, calling the decision “not easy,” but one he made after conversations with his family. And given what he accomplished in just one season in Durham, it’s no surprise that he’s in high demand.
Let’s talk numbers. In 2025, Mensah threw for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just six interceptions - good enough to finish second in the nation in passing yards and tied for second in touchdown passes.
He wasn’t just productive - he was efficient, poised, and consistently delivered in big moments. His performance earned him second-team All-ACC honors and the second-highest passing grade in the conference (85), trailing only FSU’s Thomas Castellanos.
Nationally, Mensah ranked 13th in passing grade, a testament to his consistency and command of the offense.
Now, Miami - a program with serious momentum - is looking to make him the next in a line of high-impact transfer quarterbacks. The Hurricanes are in the market for a replacement for Carson Beck, who just led them to their first national title game appearance since 2003.
Before Beck, it was Cam Ward who transferred in from Washington State and lit up the stat sheet en route to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. If history is any indication, Miami knows how to maximize quarterback talent - especially those coming in from the portal.
Mensah would fit that mold perfectly.
That said, Miami isn’t the only suitor. Ole Miss and Tennessee are also reportedly in the mix, each with a potential need under center. Ole Miss, in particular, is actively exploring options in the portal, and Mensah’s name is now at the top of every shortlist.
Miami has already been aggressive this cycle. They were in the hunt for Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, who ultimately landed at Texas Tech.
Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt also took a visit to Coral Gables before choosing LSU. And in one of the more eye-catching moves of the offseason, Miami reportedly offered Alabama QB Ty Simpson over $6 million to skip the NFL Draft and come to South Florida - an offer Simpson ultimately declined.
Mensah, meanwhile, is no stranger to high-profile moves. He transferred from Tulane to Duke last year in a deal reportedly worth $8 million over two years - a figure that turned heads and signaled just how valuable elite quarterback play has become in the modern college football landscape.
At the time, he said he planned to return to Duke for another season. But plans change - especially when you’re one of the hottest names in the portal.
Now, with the deadline looming, Mensah is once again the most intriguing quarterback on the market. And if Miami lands him, they won’t just be reloading - they’ll be doubling down on a formula that’s already taken them to the doorstep of a national title.