Miami Emerges As Favorite For Duke Transfer QB Darian Mensah

Trinton Breeze

Jan 16, 2026 1 min read

Word around college football today is Miami is now the team to beat for former Duke QB Darian Mensah, who recently entered the transfer portal on the last day. This isn’t some long shot, the Hurricanes are getting serious looks and buzz as the favorite to land him according to 247Sports.

He broke out at Tulane in 2024, starting all 13 games and throwing 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions while completing 65.9% of his throws. He also ran for 132 yards and a score.

He then transferred to Manny Diaz’s Duke squad for the 2025 season, and he took off even more piling up nearly 4,000 yards passing with 34 touchdowns and 6 picks and a completion rate around 67%.

Mensah is back in the portal, and Miami fans are hyped about the possibility of adding a proven Power-5 QB.

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$LA\^/$

$LA\^/$
LA\^/

Jan 20, 2026

If they're suing him because they "own" his NIL rights, and not for his services as a football players, what's stopping them from continuing to pay for his NIL while wearing the orange and green?

This is a waste of time. But will likely be another Lucas ordeal

Manfred_Cane

Jan 20, 2026

Alex Del Piero said:
In that situation the Big Ten was ready to go to war along with Washington and against LSU/SEC, I doubt the ACC wants to do that.

The ACC not wanting to go to war for us won't hold us back here imo

ZeroBeachCane3

Jan 20, 2026

CanesLifer2 said:
View attachment 354202

I believe that’s called kidnapping lol

“Mensah intends to join UM if he can legally”

Well…he can lol

J
jifarina

Jan 20, 2026

Suing for specific performance, not winning. This screams bully move.

Unenroll and enroll at Miami. Mensah is not an employee.

Cognizantphotos

Jan 20, 2026

Unenrolling tweet coming soon, **** that portal even NCAA said they can’t stop someone from doing what they want.

Problem2

Jan 20, 2026

What court is going to make a kid stay at a school lol

Alex Del Piero

Jan 20, 2026

Manfred_Cane said:
The ACC not wanting to go to war for us won't hold us back here imo

You got it backwards: I don't think the ACC would go to war against us like the Big Ten did to protect Washington.

C
Caniac16

Jan 20, 2026

LA\^/ said:
If they're suing him because they "own" his NIL rights, and not for his services as a football players, what's stopping them from continuing to pay for his NIL while wearing the orange and green?

This is a waste of time. But will likely be another Lucas ordeal

I think you nailed the sticking point of why this suit doesn’t mean anything. Yall really wanna pay his NIL money to play at Miami?

Mensah just needs to stay viligant on the transfer and we will be fine. Hate the added stress here, though

ZeroBeachCane3

Jan 20, 2026

Problem2 said:
What court is going to make a kid stay at a school lol

Lmao there ain’t one…waste of time by Duke…just trying to plot us as the bag guy lol

Ziggy

Jan 20, 2026

Such a bad look and petty af. Yes, the kid should pay back anything he received for 2026-2027 season and any Duke specific deals should be void. But you cannot block him from transferring or leaving. That is ridiculous.

Cognizantphotos

Jan 20, 2026

ZeroBeachCane3 said:
Lmao there ain’t one…waste of time by Duke…just trying to plot us as the bag guy lol

We love that role.

C
CanesNation26

Jan 20, 2026

That lawsuit seems incredibly weak and unlikely to ultimately succeed.

My guess is: (a) they're trying to scare Mensah back to Duke and/or (b) they're upset and want to inflict as much pain and headache on Mensah and Miami as possible.

Hopefully Mensah calls their bluff.

Manfred_Cane

Jan 20, 2026

CanesNation26 said:
That lawsuit seems incredibly weak and unlikely to ultimately succeed.

My guess is: (a) they're trying to scare Mensah back to Duke and/or (b) they're upset and want to inflict as much pain and headache on Mensah and Miami as possible.

Hopefully Mensah calls their bluff.

Manfred_Cane

Jan 20, 2026

Duke thinks they're gonna bully Mario and Miami?

Strobe

Jan 20, 2026

wrong day to try and strong arm Mario haha

H
hollyhood27

Jan 20, 2026

CanesNation26 said:
That lawsuit seems incredibly weak and unlikely to ultimately succeed.

My guess is: (a) they're trying to scare Mensah back to Duke and/or (b) they're upset and want to inflict as much pain and headache on Mensah and Miami as possible.

Hopefully Mensah calls their bluff.

It's B. Talked to some of manny's family...and It's B

C
Caniac16

Jan 20, 2026

@Cribby still feeling good here?

ajamaican

Jan 20, 2026

I hope we absolutely embarrass Duke next season. I want to be up 50 with the ball and 2 minutes to go and run the 2 minute drill. Score, go for 2, then onside kick.

JamesQuall

Jan 20, 2026

Problem2 said:
What court is going to make a kid stay at a school lol

The only real winner here is billable hours.

Duke is hoping to use this as a deterrent and drag it out until he's ineligible to use the transfer portal.

Let's hope this is another Xavier Lucas situation and another tweet goes out saying he's unenrolling within the next 24 hours