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Max Olson
Duke’s starting quarterback, Darian Mensah, is set to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
On Friday, Mensah filed his request for transfer ahead of the midnight deadline for FBS and FCS athletes to enter the portal.
“This was not an easy choice, but after discussions with my family, I feel entering the transfer portal is in my best interest,” Mensah posted on X.
Miami is anticipated to be the frontrunner in Mensah’s recruitment once he officially becomes available. The Hurricanes have signed transfer quarterbacks in consecutive seasons—Cam Ward and Carson Beck—but have not secured one during the two-week transfer window that commenced on January 2.
On December 19, Mensah had opted to return to Duke for his redshirt junior season after considering the NFL Draft. Prior to this decision, he was ranked No. 5 in Mel Kiper Jr.’s quarterback rankings for the 2026 draft.
The quarterback was entering the second year of a two-year contract with Duke that would pay him up to $4 million in 2026. Should Mensah leave Duke, sources informed ESPN’s Pete Thamel that his contract retains the university’s exclusive name, image, and likeness rights, which could hinder his ability to earn revenue-sharing funds at his new institution unless Duke cancels the deal. There is no defined buyout in Mensah’s contract with Duke, according to sources cited by Thamel.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound redshirt sophomore from San Luis Obispo, California, transferred from Tulane to Duke following the 2024 season, leading the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC championship since 1962 with a 27-20 overtime victory over No. 17 Virginia in the conference title matchup.
Mensah was recognized as a second-team All-ACC player after leading the conference with 3,973 passing yards on 67% completion, along with 35 total touchdowns and six interceptions. Over his career, he has started 27 games at both Tulane and Duke and has two years of eligibility remaining.
If Mensah departs the program by the NCAA transfer deadline, it will create a challenging situation for coach Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils, who will have limited proven alternatives available in the portal.
Backup quarterback Henry Belin IV has already entered the portal as a graduate transfer and committed to Missouri State on Thursday.
Duke concluded a 9-5 season with a thrilling 42-39 win against Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on December 31.
