NIL
Why did Darian Mensah transfer to Duke?
Duke football quarterback Darian Mensah talks transferring from Tulane
Duke football quarterback Darian Mensah was drawn to Durham shortly after his first visit. Here’s what he said about transferring from Tulane.
- Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is set to face his former team, Tulane, in Week 3.
- Mensah transferred to Duke for the chance to play in the ACC and for the university’s academic prestige.
- The quarterback reportedly signed a two-year contract with Duke worth $4 million per season.
- Through two games with the Blue Devils, Mensah has thrown for 723 yards and five touchdowns.
Duke football quarterback Darian Mensah was one of the most-sought after transfer recruits in the country last offseason, and he finds himself taking on his former school in Week 3.
Mensah and the Blue Devils looks to rebound from their 45-19 loss to No. 9 Illinois on Sept. 6 when they take on Tulane, one of the top Group of Five contenders for the College Football Playoff.
Mensah, who has 723 passing yards with five touchdowns through two games this season, finished his true freshman year with 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2024. He led the Green Wave to a 9-5 finish, losing to Army in the American Athletic Conference championship and Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Mensah’s services were not cheap, according to multiple reports of his compensation from name, image and likeness and revenue sharing.
Here’s what to know about Mensah, including why he transferred how much he’s reportedly earning at Duke.
Why did Darian Mensah transfer to Duke?
Mensah told The Fayetteville Observer in July that the opportunity to play in a fast-paced offensive schemed, paired with jumping to the Power Four were two main reasons for why he chose Duke in the transfer portal.
“I think just the opportunity to compete at an elite conference like the ACC, an elite head coach with Manny, and an offense where you spread people out and throw the ball vertically,” Mensah said. “I think those were some of the key factors that, including a defense where we’ve got Chandler (Rivers) and Wesley (Williams), V.J. (Anthony), we’ve got an elite defense, too. That’s the pieces that went into my decision.”
Mensah has already thrown for 723 yards and five touchdowns in two starts this season, as Duke’s pass-heavy approach is showing up with the redshirt sophomore at the helm. Mensah attempted 287 passes in 13 starts last season.
Mensah also told ESPN in the offseason that a degree from a prestigous school also played a role in his decision.
“It’s a prestigious university, and a great education is also important to me,” Mensah said. “It’s just a family out here. I wanted to be part of that.”
It’s also hard to ignore Mensah’s reported contract with the Blue Devils, as the program made the quarterback one of the highest-paid players in college sports when he signed.
Darian Mensah contract
Mensah reportedly signed a two-year contract at Duke worth $4 million per season, according to CBS Sports.
Mensah is ranked 13th in On3’s NIL valuations, with 10 college football players ahead of the signal caller. The only non-football players above Mensah is BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa, one of the top NBA draft prospects for 2026, and JT Toppin, who led Texas Tech to the Final Four last season.
Duke, a blue-blood basketball program, went 9-3 last season under first-year coach Manny Diaz, and apparently made a huge investment at quarterback with Mensah as it looks to compete for an ACC championship.
Darian Mensah stats
Here are Mensah’s year-by-year college stats so far.
- 2024 (Tulane): 189 of 287 passing (65.9%) for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns to six interceptions; 60 carries for 132 yards with a touchdown
- 2025 (Duke): 50 of 68 passing (73.5%) for 723 yards with five touchdowns to an interception (two games)