Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback Darian Mensah joined the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the ACC Media Days. Check out everything the Duke transfer quarterback had to say:
On moving to Miami: It's been pretty seamless, other than actually getting to campus. But, you know, it's been a lot of fun. Coaches, players, everyone around the university has been, you know, detrimental to, you know, my success. But I've, you know, I've been super excited to, you know, get to know new people. But it's been awesome and a pretty seamless transition.
On the first time he addressed the team: It was pretty seamless. I really wasn't, I'm not really focused on, you know, anything other than, getting my team better. And, our motto is going 1-0 each and every day. So, no emotions, just working.
On feeding off the playoff run: I mean, I'm just motivated. I feel like, the team and I have something to prove this year. But I'm just excited to go to work. I'm with a new team, I'm in a new place, a new staff, new offense. You know, there's a lot for me to handle as far as the transition goes. But, yeah, I mean, I try to, just tune a lot of things out and, just go to work. So, that's kind of how I operate.
On what made him choose Miami: Yeah, I think seeing what, the past two quarterbacks have done in that offense was a huge one for me. And then, the weapons here at Miami are, I think it's one of the most talented teams I've been a part of. So I think those are two of the reasons as to why I transferred.
On his transition from the Duke offense to Miami: Here, we're more play-action heavy and, playing smash-mouth football and going to establish the run. Kind of more similar to my Tulane offense. But I think that's more, that's the difference between here and Duke. Duke, we were more air raid, throwing a bunch of times. But here, I think we're more play-action, you know, take you over the top.
On his freedom in the backfield: Yeah, a lot more freedom, at the line of scrimmage, but, you know, within the offense as well. I think Coach Dawson has done a great job, just forming the offense around doing the stuff that I like to do and that I'm comfortable with. So, I think that's been the funnest part about working with him I'm doing the stuff that I love to do.
On his connection with his teammates Yeah, I think it's huge to build a sense of unity within a team. And that's kind of what I pride my leadership, you know, style on is, you know, outside of football, outside of, you know, outside of the field, outside of the weight room, how can I lead guys and how can I just get around the dudes to establish myself as a leader? So, I think it started in high school too. I transferred schools and, you know, I had to do the same thing. So, kind of just continued that process, I guess.
On Cooper Barkate: He's been, super important for me. Going through anything that's hard with your best friend just makes it that much easier, you know. And so, him and I are from the same area and we have a lot of the same interests, so we spend a lot of time together. And so, I'm just excited for the year he's gonna have this year, just like all the other receivers on my team.
On Malachi Toney: Yeah, I've been talking about it all day, but usually when you have a big-time receiver, they kind of like have an attitude, he is just the opposite of that. He's the most selfless guy, and, he's the first one in, last one out. I know it sounds cliche to say, but he actually lives that. So, super hard worker, but also elite human off the field.
On moving to Miami: It's been pretty seamless, other than actually getting to campus. But, you know, it's been a lot of fun. Coaches, players, everyone around the university has been, you know, detrimental to, you know, my success. But I've, you know, I've been super excited to, you know, get to know new people. But it's been awesome and a pretty seamless transition.
On the first time he addressed the team: It was pretty seamless. I really wasn't, I'm not really focused on, you know, anything other than, getting my team better. And, our motto is going 1-0 each and every day. So, no emotions, just working.
On feeding off the playoff run: I mean, I'm just motivated. I feel like, the team and I have something to prove this year. But I'm just excited to go to work. I'm with a new team, I'm in a new place, a new staff, new offense. You know, there's a lot for me to handle as far as the transition goes. But, yeah, I mean, I try to, just tune a lot of things out and, just go to work. So, that's kind of how I operate.
On what made him choose Miami: Yeah, I think seeing what, the past two quarterbacks have done in that offense was a huge one for me. And then, the weapons here at Miami are, I think it's one of the most talented teams I've been a part of. So I think those are two of the reasons as to why I transferred.
On his transition from the Duke offense to Miami: Here, we're more play-action heavy and, playing smash-mouth football and going to establish the run. Kind of more similar to my Tulane offense. But I think that's more, that's the difference between here and Duke. Duke, we were more air raid, throwing a bunch of times. But here, I think we're more play-action, you know, take you over the top.
On his freedom in the backfield: Yeah, a lot more freedom, at the line of scrimmage, but, you know, within the offense as well. I think Coach Dawson has done a great job, just forming the offense around doing the stuff that I like to do and that I'm comfortable with. So, I think that's been the funnest part about working with him I'm doing the stuff that I love to do.
On his connection with his teammates Yeah, I think it's huge to build a sense of unity within a team. And that's kind of what I pride my leadership, you know, style on is, you know, outside of football, outside of, you know, outside of the field, outside of the weight room, how can I lead guys and how can I just get around the dudes to establish myself as a leader? So, I think it started in high school too. I transferred schools and, you know, I had to do the same thing. So, kind of just continued that process, I guess.
On Cooper Barkate: He's been, super important for me. Going through anything that's hard with your best friend just makes it that much easier, you know. And so, him and I are from the same area and we have a lot of the same interests, so we spend a lot of time together. And so, I'm just excited for the year he's gonna have this year, just like all the other receivers on my team.
On Malachi Toney: Yeah, I've been talking about it all day, but usually when you have a big-time receiver, they kind of like have an attitude, he is just the opposite of that. He's the most selfless guy, and, he's the first one in, last one out. I know it sounds cliche to say, but he actually lives that. So, super hard worker, but also elite human off the field.
