CanesInSight was in the middle of all the chaos during the ACC Kickoff Football Media Days. Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback Darian Mensah joined the show to talk about the upcoming season and fall camp:
On his fit: Yeah. Went for the Miami theme on them. Miami fin. This is a D-train inspired outfit. Yeah, that's what I just told everyone.
On his mindset heading into Fall Camp: Yeah, it's really just the lock-in phase. I'm just excited to get back to strictly football. It's what I was born to do, I feel like. And just really excited to go play with my teammates again. It's been a while since we've gotten the pads, and I just can't wait to go get back on that field.
On his basketball career: So, when I was younger, I was the point guard. I used to go to these tournaments in Vegas, and I played point guard over there. And then as I got, I played varsity basketball. Started playing varsity basketball my freshman year, and then I transferred. And that's when I kind of started taking football more serious. And so I was like more of a 3 and D rotational guy. So, but I've always had a love for basketball. It's one of the most fun sports to watch, especially if you've got athletic dudes playing the sport.
On the receiver room: It's been fun to say the least. I think that we've got one of the most talented groups in the country. I think that, you know, there are some guys who are obviously known, and there's some guys who are unknown, who are gonna shock a lot of people this season. So, I can't wait for that. I'm excited for that. I really just want to go turn that entire room up come fall.
On being settled in Miami: Absolutely. I feel like everything is aligning perfectly. And I think that God is just doing, you know, what he does, you know. He just, everything just feels right right now. And so, I'm super thankful for, this opportunity and this team and the people around it. Meeting you has been, pretty exciting. So, I'm just, blessed to be here.
On something he is working on to be at the next level: That's a good question. I was just telling him, really just cleaning up ball security, you know, having two hands on the ball at all times, just something that I think I can improve on. But really getting into, like, the fine parts of football, like, knowing what every single position is doing on every single play. I think that, getting in there with Coach Mirabal up on the board has really helped me this offseason, and I think it's going to take my game to the next level.
On Alex Mirabal? It's been awesome. You know, like you said, I'm really just a student of the game, and Mirabal, like, it's like he knows everything about football. And so it's been really great to get in there, and, he's off right now, so I'm in there just texting him, photos of different fronts. I'll send him 20 photos a day, and he'll respond to every single one and tell me how we'll block it, why we're blocking it this way. And so he's been super beneficial for me.
On his leadership: I feel like I'm in prime position to be a leader. You know, I think that being there in the spring has definitely set me up because now it's like, these are all my guys. It felt like that as soon as I got on campus, but now it's just even more. Like, this is my team. These are my guys. And, you know, I just can't wait to go take the field.
On controlling the offense: It's been great. I think that Coach Dawson leaves the quarterback to be free to create, and, that's what you're doing as a quarterback. You're creating opportunities for your receivers, your guys. And so I think that it just, it'll help me more at the next level as far as, like, I'm doing what I want, I'm doing what I... What I see from the defense is what I'm gonna, attack. And so I think, he leaves the quarterback to be free to do that, and I'm just super excited to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want.
On his fit: Yeah. Went for the Miami theme on them. Miami fin. This is a D-train inspired outfit. Yeah, that's what I just told everyone.
On his mindset heading into Fall Camp: Yeah, it's really just the lock-in phase. I'm just excited to get back to strictly football. It's what I was born to do, I feel like. And just really excited to go play with my teammates again. It's been a while since we've gotten the pads, and I just can't wait to go get back on that field.
On his basketball career: So, when I was younger, I was the point guard. I used to go to these tournaments in Vegas, and I played point guard over there. And then as I got, I played varsity basketball. Started playing varsity basketball my freshman year, and then I transferred. And that's when I kind of started taking football more serious. And so I was like more of a 3 and D rotational guy. So, but I've always had a love for basketball. It's one of the most fun sports to watch, especially if you've got athletic dudes playing the sport.
On the receiver room: It's been fun to say the least. I think that we've got one of the most talented groups in the country. I think that, you know, there are some guys who are obviously known, and there's some guys who are unknown, who are gonna shock a lot of people this season. So, I can't wait for that. I'm excited for that. I really just want to go turn that entire room up come fall.
On being settled in Miami: Absolutely. I feel like everything is aligning perfectly. And I think that God is just doing, you know, what he does, you know. He just, everything just feels right right now. And so, I'm super thankful for, this opportunity and this team and the people around it. Meeting you has been, pretty exciting. So, I'm just, blessed to be here.
On something he is working on to be at the next level: That's a good question. I was just telling him, really just cleaning up ball security, you know, having two hands on the ball at all times, just something that I think I can improve on. But really getting into, like, the fine parts of football, like, knowing what every single position is doing on every single play. I think that, getting in there with Coach Mirabal up on the board has really helped me this offseason, and I think it's going to take my game to the next level.
On Alex Mirabal? It's been awesome. You know, like you said, I'm really just a student of the game, and Mirabal, like, it's like he knows everything about football. And so it's been really great to get in there, and, he's off right now, so I'm in there just texting him, photos of different fronts. I'll send him 20 photos a day, and he'll respond to every single one and tell me how we'll block it, why we're blocking it this way. And so he's been super beneficial for me.
On his leadership: I feel like I'm in prime position to be a leader. You know, I think that being there in the spring has definitely set me up because now it's like, these are all my guys. It felt like that as soon as I got on campus, but now it's just even more. Like, this is my team. These are my guys. And, you know, I just can't wait to go take the field.
On controlling the offense: It's been great. I think that Coach Dawson leaves the quarterback to be free to create, and, that's what you're doing as a quarterback. You're creating opportunities for your receivers, your guys. And so I think that it just, it'll help me more at the next level as far as, like, I'm doing what I want, I'm doing what I... What I see from the defense is what I'm gonna, attack. And so I think, he leaves the quarterback to be free to do that, and I'm just super excited to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want.
