After the Hurricanes 2026 Spring Game, Peter Ariz and DMoney sat down with new Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah at the 'Titanic' right by the Hurricanes campus.
Here is everything they talked about during the show:
DMoney: You said you wanted to put on a show. I think you gave them a little bit of a show out there, man. How do you feel?
Darian Mensah: It feels great. I think it was a good opportunity to come out and compete. I think both sides of the ball played extremely well. But yeah, it's awesome to go out and show everybody, all our fans, what we've been working on.
Peter Ariz: We saw you connect with Coop [Barkate] a few times. You guys have done that once or twice before. Just talk about those couple plays that you guys made there, that touchdown throw. You had another one across the middle to him as well. What did you see on the touchdown throw to him?
Darian Mensah: Just single high, man coverage. I think I'm extremely confident in all our guys that they can win their one-on-ones. We work on it every day. So if I see that I'm going to attack it, and I trust Coop tremendously.
DMoney: It's funny, last time I saw you practice, defense got you guys. And then you came out here and you were throwing. Just your competitive nature, man, when you deal with a defense that is this caliber, knowing, hey, I'm going to come back next practice. I'm going to smoke you guys. Just what's that like for you?
Darian Mensah: It's awesome. I think that's what builds a championship caliber team. Two sides of the ball that can go out and really fight. And they did win the other day. And that did get to me. My body language was not very good that day. To have a defense that's good just makes it easier. Come game time, we don't got to go out and score 70. They're going to go get stops and get us the ball back. So it's a good feeling.
Peter Ariz: How do you feel about how it went today for the offensive side of the ball when you were out there and the offense as a whole?
Darian Mensah: I think it was solid. Obviously, it's not going to be perfect, but I think offensively, we moved the ball well. We put the ball in the end zone, which that's what we're supposed to do. So I'm proud of our guys, the way we competed today.
DMoney: Just having your mom out here. I saw her in the stands, like just that environment being comfortable here. What's that been like?
Darian Mensah: It's been awesome. I think not only my mom and my actual family, but, my Canes family, everybody here, all my supporters, they've made this place feel like home as soon as I stepped on campus. So it's been super dope, and, I can't wait to see where this goes.
DMoney: Just your game. Like, one thing I noticed about you, you're not afraid to throw. You're not gonna wait till they're wide open and just beat them, and you're throwing with anticipation. Just your game and how you've continued to grow that game.
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've been doing this for a while now. Everything's reps, so I've been repping it. And to be in this new offense with these receivers who are extremely dynamic, it's just gonna be a lot of fun this year. So I really can't wait to go out and compete against Stanford game one.
Peter Ariz: What do you like about Coach Dawson's system now that you've been here for a few months?
Darian Mensah: I like the fact that we can run the ball. I think that's a huge thing as far as opening up the passing game because, you've got to add a plus one defender to the run game and then you can take shots down the field. So I think, just the fact our run game is so complex is something I like. And then our play action obviously is something that I've been familiar with my offense at Tulane. So I think both of those are pretty awesome.
DMoney: Just like the reaction in the community, man, because, you're the quarterback, Miami is the biggest show in town right now, bigger than all the pro teams. Like, just what's the love been like for you and for the team?
Darian Mensah: It's been great. I'm out there taking pictures for like 30 minutes after practice. But I mean, I love it. I love being in the position I'm in. It's really a true blessing. And, I can't thank God enough for it.
Peter Ariz: What have you seen from the big guys in front of you, the offensive line? I know that was one of the major reasons you decided to make a move here. And it looks like they're coming together nicely. Some pretty clean pockets for the most part today when, when you're in there. But how do you think that group's coming together? Because it is kind of a new bunch.
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I think, it does, it definitely takes time for an O-line to gel together. And I feel like they've, taken that upon themselves and really stood up to the challenge. And I feel like each and every day they get better. And I think Coach Mirabal leading them, I have, full confidence that they're going to be just as dominant, if not more dominant than they were last year.
DMoney: California guys, I mean, obviously Cooper got some catches. I saw Vance [Stafford] get catches. You're getting hyped up. Just what's it been like to have some California people here while you are here in South Florida?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah, Coop and Vance are some of my best friends on the team. We're just alike, we're from California. So that's pretty dope. But I think it's a special thing when people from all over the country can come together and achieve a common goal. So that's something that's special too.
Peter Ariz: What's the focus for you now that spring's over and, the work never stops, but obviously it's a little bit different without the organized practices. So what are the next couple months gonna be like with you and I guess getting with your receivers and the rest of your teammates?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I think doing stuff off the field is gonna be my main focus. Just hanging out with, you know, my teammates that in scenarios that aren't football related, anything that I can do that's outside of football, I think, can really help grow camaraderie and a bond of a team.
DMoney: Obviously, the journey here was tough. Being past all that now and then being able to play football and do stuff like this, like, just how, is it like a weight off your shoulders, just being able to play?
Darian Mensah: Absolutely, yeah, it was a little bit of a rocky road getting here, but, you know, it's just honestly a blessing to get to come out and compete with great talent on both sides of the ball, but definitely a weight off my shoulders.
Here is everything they talked about during the show:
DMoney: You said you wanted to put on a show. I think you gave them a little bit of a show out there, man. How do you feel?
Darian Mensah: It feels great. I think it was a good opportunity to come out and compete. I think both sides of the ball played extremely well. But yeah, it's awesome to go out and show everybody, all our fans, what we've been working on.
Peter Ariz: We saw you connect with Coop [Barkate] a few times. You guys have done that once or twice before. Just talk about those couple plays that you guys made there, that touchdown throw. You had another one across the middle to him as well. What did you see on the touchdown throw to him?
Darian Mensah: Just single high, man coverage. I think I'm extremely confident in all our guys that they can win their one-on-ones. We work on it every day. So if I see that I'm going to attack it, and I trust Coop tremendously.
DMoney: It's funny, last time I saw you practice, defense got you guys. And then you came out here and you were throwing. Just your competitive nature, man, when you deal with a defense that is this caliber, knowing, hey, I'm going to come back next practice. I'm going to smoke you guys. Just what's that like for you?
Darian Mensah: It's awesome. I think that's what builds a championship caliber team. Two sides of the ball that can go out and really fight. And they did win the other day. And that did get to me. My body language was not very good that day. To have a defense that's good just makes it easier. Come game time, we don't got to go out and score 70. They're going to go get stops and get us the ball back. So it's a good feeling.
Peter Ariz: How do you feel about how it went today for the offensive side of the ball when you were out there and the offense as a whole?
Darian Mensah: I think it was solid. Obviously, it's not going to be perfect, but I think offensively, we moved the ball well. We put the ball in the end zone, which that's what we're supposed to do. So I'm proud of our guys, the way we competed today.
DMoney: Just having your mom out here. I saw her in the stands, like just that environment being comfortable here. What's that been like?
Darian Mensah: It's been awesome. I think not only my mom and my actual family, but, my Canes family, everybody here, all my supporters, they've made this place feel like home as soon as I stepped on campus. So it's been super dope, and, I can't wait to see where this goes.
DMoney: Just your game. Like, one thing I noticed about you, you're not afraid to throw. You're not gonna wait till they're wide open and just beat them, and you're throwing with anticipation. Just your game and how you've continued to grow that game.
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've been doing this for a while now. Everything's reps, so I've been repping it. And to be in this new offense with these receivers who are extremely dynamic, it's just gonna be a lot of fun this year. So I really can't wait to go out and compete against Stanford game one.
Peter Ariz: What do you like about Coach Dawson's system now that you've been here for a few months?
Darian Mensah: I like the fact that we can run the ball. I think that's a huge thing as far as opening up the passing game because, you've got to add a plus one defender to the run game and then you can take shots down the field. So I think, just the fact our run game is so complex is something I like. And then our play action obviously is something that I've been familiar with my offense at Tulane. So I think both of those are pretty awesome.
DMoney: Just like the reaction in the community, man, because, you're the quarterback, Miami is the biggest show in town right now, bigger than all the pro teams. Like, just what's the love been like for you and for the team?
Darian Mensah: It's been great. I'm out there taking pictures for like 30 minutes after practice. But I mean, I love it. I love being in the position I'm in. It's really a true blessing. And, I can't thank God enough for it.
Peter Ariz: What have you seen from the big guys in front of you, the offensive line? I know that was one of the major reasons you decided to make a move here. And it looks like they're coming together nicely. Some pretty clean pockets for the most part today when, when you're in there. But how do you think that group's coming together? Because it is kind of a new bunch.
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I think, it does, it definitely takes time for an O-line to gel together. And I feel like they've, taken that upon themselves and really stood up to the challenge. And I feel like each and every day they get better. And I think Coach Mirabal leading them, I have, full confidence that they're going to be just as dominant, if not more dominant than they were last year.
DMoney: California guys, I mean, obviously Cooper got some catches. I saw Vance [Stafford] get catches. You're getting hyped up. Just what's it been like to have some California people here while you are here in South Florida?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah, Coop and Vance are some of my best friends on the team. We're just alike, we're from California. So that's pretty dope. But I think it's a special thing when people from all over the country can come together and achieve a common goal. So that's something that's special too.
Peter Ariz: What's the focus for you now that spring's over and, the work never stops, but obviously it's a little bit different without the organized practices. So what are the next couple months gonna be like with you and I guess getting with your receivers and the rest of your teammates?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I think doing stuff off the field is gonna be my main focus. Just hanging out with, you know, my teammates that in scenarios that aren't football related, anything that I can do that's outside of football, I think, can really help grow camaraderie and a bond of a team.
DMoney: Obviously, the journey here was tough. Being past all that now and then being able to play football and do stuff like this, like, just how, is it like a weight off your shoulders, just being able to play?
Darian Mensah: Absolutely, yeah, it was a little bit of a rocky road getting here, but, you know, it's just honestly a blessing to get to come out and compete with great talent on both sides of the ball, but definitely a weight off my shoulders.
