Duke QB Darian Mensah commits to Miami

Depends if the officials “allow” an extra step or two when closing in on the QB. That’s why we need outta this conference - the “main schools” are basketball schools and the football landscape hates us and the attention we get. They want UNC, Clemson and FSU to dominate football.

At this juncture, I wouldn’t mind being in the B12 if the revenue distribution model allowed for viewership and wins to impact payout similar to the new ACC model. I feel that we’d at the very least have equal footing and be welcomed/valued as a revenue generator.
And an overall reputation builder for teams in the Big 12

Miami, as it is constituted under Mario, is very close to crossing over into the group of teams that are given the benefit of the doubt if/when they stub their toe during the regular season.

As long as Mario continues to recruit and portal at an elite level we should have at least one mulligan annually against a lesser team without taking a huge perception hit. This is big for us of course when it comes to the bias inherent in the committee rankings but also for potential future Big12 opponents who can earn rankings boosts by playing us tough or outright winning that they just can't earn against other teams currently in that conference. One could argue TT at the moment carries that clout but I would argue they are still a couple seasons and OOC marquee wins away from earning that recognition.

If Miami beats ND on the road and goes 12-1 or better with an ACC title and at least 1 playoff victory we will ahve ascended to the elite of elite tiers in college football. This rare air is inhabited currently by just a handful of the most elite SEC and B1G teams. Even ND couldn't back door in there way in like Bama and OSU have in the past.
 
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And an overall reputation builder for teams in the Big 12

Miami, as it is constituted under Mario, is very close to crossing over into the group of teams that are given the benefit of the doubt if/when they stub their toe during the regular season.

As long as Mario continues to recruit and portal at an elite level we should have at least one mulligan annually against a lesser team without taking a huge perception hit. This is big for us of course when it comes to the bias inherent in the committee rankings but also for potential future Big12 opponents who can earn rankings boosts by playing us tough or outright winning that they just can't earn against other teams currently in that conference. One could argue TT at the moment carries that clout but I would argue they are still a couple seasons and OOC marquee wins away from earning that recognition.

If Miami beats ND on the road and goes 12-1 or better with an ACC title and at least 1 playoff victory we will ahve ascended to the elite of elite tiers in college football. This rare air is inhabited currently by just a handful of the most elite SEC and B1G teams. Even ND couldn't back door in there way in like Bama and OSU have in the past.
ND can backdoor in. It's codified in their new contract.

What will be interesting to see is how the committee decides to rank them. Are they going to get hooked up or are they going to get dropped to 13 conveniently.
 
ND can backdoor in. It's codified in their new contract.

What will be interesting to see is how the committee decides to rank them. Are they going to get hooked up or are they going to get dropped to 13 conveniently.

That would be the most wonderful scenario. On the bubble and get dropped to 13.
 
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Former Duke teammates spoke highly of new Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, repeatedly emphasizing his mindset, leadership, and pro-level presence. Defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr. called Mensah a “great quarterback” and said he expects him to be in the Heisman conversation, praising his poise, work ethic, and ability to lead Duke to an ACC championship. Cornerback Chandler Rivers echoed that sentiment, describing Mensah as a fierce competitor who was constantly asking questions to better understand the defense because he wanted to win. Rivers said practicing against Mensah felt like facing an NFL quarterback every day, noting his movement and command, and pointed to the fact that Mensah was voted team captain just months after arriving as proof of his character.

Teammates were equally complimentary of wide receiver Cooper Barkate. Rivers said he knew Barkate was special on the first day of practice, praising his speed, efficient route running, and overall competitiveness. He described Barkate as “a baller” and “a dog,” highlighting his drive and desire to be great.

Overall, former teammates consistently highlighted both players’ competitiveness, professionalism, leadership, and championship mentality.

Quotes were from their former teammates at Senior Bowl practices
 
Being on the final rise of this kids arc/ascension cannot be over stated. Dawson has shown he can make you 1/1, we have the weapons to make that happen (the addition of Barkate I think will prove invaluable), we are clearly also on the rise (I think our 2nd year kids make big leaps and incoming class contributes immediately to go with well established roster) and this kid + or RB room will really hurt defenses. I'm a sadistic fu c k, I look forward to carving up any defense put in from of us, especially the rapists in S. Bend.
 
Thinking about the weapons it’s clear we have much more to work with than 2024.

Toney is an upgrade over X (no slight to X) Barkate, Wingo Vaughan, Moore, Jacobs, Parris. Man who knows who will step up but I think we could have a Wr room like LSU 2019 if either Wingo or Parris is the goods. Wouldn’t shock me if Dawson considers using some of these bigger Wr as the flex TE in specifics formations. I am in no way advocating moving Moore or Parris to TE just saying they may lineup flexed out in some formations where we would normally put our pass catching TE if Gilbert or Ruskovich or whoever can’t do it.

Stable full of good backs and more versatile than 2024. Id say Fletch has surpassed Martinez at this pt.

So then you look at the o line

O line in 2024 was Bell/Rivers Rivers/McCoy/Okunlola Carpenter Coop CiCi

Whomever plays LT this year is likely to be close to what we got from Bell and Rivers in 2024. I think McCoy or Okunlola can play tackle but hopefully by week 4 or 5 they can slide inside. Center is a real question mark but Rodrigues was a starter at G to start 2024 so two years later he should be good, certainly oughta know all the calls. That leaves RT and I expect Cantwell or Meriweather to step in there. The more I think about it the more I think we will be on par with that level of play.

It could play out really similar to 2024. McCoy and/or Okunlola starts at T with either Meiweather or Cantwell taking 2nd team reps trying to up their game enough to hold it down so McCoy/Okunlola can slide back in to Guard. With McCoy and Okunlola at the guards man that’s a tough interior. Especially if the new guys are playing well enough to allow them to slide inside. That just leaves center. Hopefully we have recruited/developed well enough to hold it down or we tamper and test the portal **** for the center we need and really make the country hate us
 
Thinking about the weapons it’s clear we have much more to work with than 2024.

Toney is an upgrade over X (no slight to X) Barkate, Wingo Vaughan, Moore, Jacobs, Parris. Man who knows who will step up but I think we could have a Wr room like LSU 2019 if either Wingo or Parris is the goods. Wouldn’t shock me if Dawson considers using some of these bigger Wr as the flex TE in specifics formations. I am in no way advocating moving Moore or Parris to TE just saying they may lineup flexed out in some formations where we would normally put our pass catching TE if Gilbert or Ruskovich or whoever can’t do it.

Stable full of good backs and more versatile than 2024. Id say Fletch has surpassed Martinez at this pt.

So then you look at the o line

O line in 2024 was Bell/Rivers Rivers/McCoy/Okunlola Carpenter Coop CiCi

Whomever plays LT this year is likely to be close to what we got from Bell and Rivers in 2024. I think McCoy or Okunlola can play tackle but hopefully by week 4 or 5 they can slide inside. Center is a real question mark but Rodrigues was a starter at G to start 2024 so two years later he should be good, certainly oughta know all the calls. That leaves RT and I expect Cantwell or Meriweather to step in there. The more I think about it the more I think we will be on par with that level of play.

It could play out really similar to 2024. McCoy and/or Okunlola starts at T with either Meiweather or Cantwell taking 2nd team reps trying to up their game enough to hold it down so McCoy/Okunlola can slide back in to Guard. With McCoy and Okunlola at the guards man that’s a tough interior. Especially if the new guys are playing well enough to allow them to slide inside. That just leaves center. Hopefully we have recruited/developed well enough to hold it down or we tamper and test the portal **** for the center we need and really make the country hate us

Here's a prediction: If Mario can get the OL right then 2026 Miami's offense will be a better overall offense than 2024.
 
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I genuinely concur

People are going to bring up statistics vs 2024 but that team had to put up big numbers every single game because of the defense. With Toney, Barkate, Fletcher, Pringle, Mensah and a solid OL you may only be playing 3 quarters of football every game. Excited to hear some of the reports coming out of spring ball.
 
People are going to bring up statistics vs 2024 but that team had to put up big numbers every single game because of the defense. With Toney, Barkate, Fletcher, Pringle, Mensah and a solid OL you may only be playing 3 quarters of football every game. Excited to hear some of the reports coming out of spring ball.
exactly cant wait to hear about our creatures that are roaming the practice field
 
Whomever plays LT this year is likely to be close to what we got from Bell and Rivers in 2024. I think McCoy or Okunlola can play tackle but hopefully by week 4 or 5 they can slide inside. Center is a real question mark but Rodrigues was a starter at G to start 2024 so two years later he should be good, certainly oughta know all the calls. That leaves RT and I expect Cantwell or Meriweather to step in there. The more I think about it the more I think we will be on par with that level of play.

It could play out really similar to 2024. McCoy and/or Okunlola starts at T with either Meiweather or Cantwell taking 2nd team reps trying to up their game enough to hold it down so McCoy/Okunlola can slide back in to Guard. With McCoy and Okunlola at the guards man that’s a tough interior. Especially if the new guys are playing well enough to allow them to slide inside. That just leaves center. Hopefully we have recruited/developed well enough to hold it down or we tamper and test the portal **** for the center we need and really make the country hate us
From Mario's interview run, I'm getting the idea that both McCoy and Okunlola will be our starting guards. Both of those guys got the majority of their college snaps at guard and performed well there. They will likely want to maintain that continuity going. I see them trying replicate the formula they had with Bell and Mauigoa, using Meriweather as our left tackle and Canwell at RT.
 
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