- Joined
- Feb 2, 2026
- Messages
- 263
Reporter: Darian, just what are your 1st thoughts? How'd it go today?
Darian Mensah: It went great today. Good to be back out there. Feel like the energy was up, which is expected on day one, but, a lot more work to put in.
Reporter: You put in a lot of time and work here at Ohio Wesleyan, even today on optional, on the days off away from camp. It's just all the extra stuff in the off season. Anything you can say, you know, in particular about today or just preparation coming into this year?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I think he stepped into more of like, a, a leadership role. He's, you know, he's one of the guys who were staying after practice and catching extra balls. So, he's, you know, one of the examples in the leader room. And I think that just speaks to who he is as a person and a player. So, I'm proud of that dude, but like I-said, he, he's got a long way to go-and, and so do the... so does the rest of the offense.
Reporter: You mentioned you guys still have a lot of work to do. Coach Mirabal just said this is a group that doesn't wanna be praised yet. What is the mentality over this next month as you guys get ready for the season?
Darian Mensah: Just want to know in everything that we do. And, you know, it starts with, you know, meetings, starts with lifts, and just be present, you know, within everything that we’re doing. Not focusing on anything external and really just focusing on, uh, the internal.
Reporter: Darian, How much, how much do you think you kind of, I don't know, maybe got more comfortable with the team, with the offense over the course of, you know, summer workouts and everything?
Darien Mensah: A lot more comfortable, obviously. You know, just spending time with the guys, I've gotten a little... gotten to know them a lot more. And I think that, like I, they've been very receptive to me as a, as a leader. And, you know, I'm very thankful for that. So, you know, being out here day one, just another step. Can't wait to get back out there.
Reporter: How much does that mean coming to a new program and [Darian clears throat] walking into, like, the family culture that they have here and, it has to ease the transition, not just from a personal standpoint, but also a football standpoint?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, definitely. And I think the, the leaders of this team, just emphasize, you know, family and, and the culture here. And, and that was apparent when I 1st got here. So, it, it definitely did ease the, the transition for me.
Reporter: Darian, Mario was saying that your approach as a leader, you know, you have a... the ability to change the perspective of your teammates when it comes to certain things. Why is it so important for you to have that impact as, you know, whether it's taking the time to, you know, take your teammates to learn new things? Like, why is that important for you as a leader?
Darian Mensah: It's kinda just who I am. Like, I, I think I connect with people by just getting to know them and, and, and talking to them. I'm not the rip your head off and, and scream at you. I'm, I'm gonna just talk you through, you know , what you need to do to, to be better. And so that's kind of just my approach as a, as a leader. But, I think it's the most helpful within younger cats, especially in the receiver room, just to let them know, like, just breathe and play your game. And just to know that, you know, you're, you're playing the game that you played your whole life and to have fun. So, that's kinda my approach, when it comes to leadership.
Reporter: And when it comes to actually blending, you know, guys that have been here for a while to the new guys, you know, guys in their 1st time, what have you seen the most of kind of seeing the veterans getting everybody together too and building the culture for the next couple of weeks?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, it's just about holding everybody accountable. Whether you're a freshman or a, a 6th year senior, you've, you've, you've gotta be accountable. You've gotta... you need to be where you have to be, each and every day. And so, I think the leaders of this team have done a great job, upholding that.
Reporter: How's the relationship going with Shannon as far as finding things that work for you, but also work with the skill set of the guys that you have?
Darian Mensah: It's been great. You know, I've been saying it. I feel like I've said it, like, 1,000 times that he, morphs the offense around the quarterback. And, he's fine with changing things, in order to make me feel comfortable out there. And so, I definitely appreciate that as a quarterback.
Reporter: It looked like, you and OJ, during one of the one-on-one drills... I don’t know. What was... how much do you guys, I guess, maybe kind of tease each other, talk trash to each other? You, you went all the way.
Darian Mensah: [laughs] Yeah. I don't really talk trash, but, I mean, when he's... When, when somebody is, is chirping at my team, then I gotta chirp back. And, he's just an ultimate competitor, great player. And that's just, you know, 2 competitors going at it. Nothing else.
Reporter: Darian, what are you seeing from the other quarterbacks in the room, Luke, Judd, Dereon, etc? Just what's the chemistry like of that room?
Darian Mensah: The chemistry is A1 in that room. I love all of those guys. It's a, it's a lot of fun to be a part of that room. But I think a lot of growth has happened on the field as well, as far as taking care of the football. I, I don't think we threw any picks today. So that's good to see. And I think that we've also gotten better at just putting the ball in play to our, to our play makers.
Reporter: Darian, what's all been the most difficult part of the transition for you and what has been a little bit easier than you anticipated?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I got this question yesterday. Nothing was... [chuckles] To be honest, it wasn't that hard to transition. Like I said, the guys on the team were just very receptive to me, and, and welcomed me-like family. And so, it was a, a pretty seamless transition when I 1st got here. But it's just about, you know, upholding the standard, and continuing to put in the work.
Reporter: This team's really good at the skill position, both receiver and DB. I imagine in practice that creates tight windows for you and stuff. How is that affecting your progression as a quarterback?
Darian Mensah: It just makes me [chuckles] gotta be on time, and in early with the throws. And it makes you gotta...you have to make NFL-type throws. And so, having elite, you know, offensive and, and defensive skill players, just means you've gotta have that, that level of play that, that's that elite as well. So, makes me that much better.
Reporter: A fun one on Mali. Just you've been a part of football your whole life. Have you ever seen a player kind of have the celebrity that he's garnered at like, 19 years old?
Darian Mensah: [laughs] I don't think so. He is... He just deserves it all too. Like, he’s one of the hardest working dudes on this team. Humble. And I kinda... I've, I've told this to people before. He's... You get a, a big time receiver, usually they expect the ball. And then when they don't get the ball... I think he on-he only had, like, a few targets today. And, you know, usually they'll start complaining. He won't say a word. He'll just keep running his routes continue to get open. And I think that’s what's the most special about him is, you know, how humble he is.
Reporter: Working with this O-line, I, I know Coach Mirabal likes to, you know cross-train guys, rotate everyone around. Does that make things, I don’t know, more difficult? Does that help? what does that do when you're g-you know, trying to get prepared for season, like, when they're rotating kind of all over?
Darian Mensah: I wouldn't say it makes things difficult. If anything, it just makes me more aware of who's in, heightens my awareness. You know, having SJ at center, it's a, a different type of snap compared to double R. So, I wouldn't say anything's different. It just makes us have to mesh that much better upfront.
Darian Mensah: It went great today. Good to be back out there. Feel like the energy was up, which is expected on day one, but, a lot more work to put in.
Reporter: You put in a lot of time and work here at Ohio Wesleyan, even today on optional, on the days off away from camp. It's just all the extra stuff in the off season. Anything you can say, you know, in particular about today or just preparation coming into this year?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I think he stepped into more of like, a, a leadership role. He's, you know, he's one of the guys who were staying after practice and catching extra balls. So, he's, you know, one of the examples in the leader room. And I think that just speaks to who he is as a person and a player. So, I'm proud of that dude, but like I-said, he, he's got a long way to go-and, and so do the... so does the rest of the offense.
Reporter: You mentioned you guys still have a lot of work to do. Coach Mirabal just said this is a group that doesn't wanna be praised yet. What is the mentality over this next month as you guys get ready for the season?
Darian Mensah: Just want to know in everything that we do. And, you know, it starts with, you know, meetings, starts with lifts, and just be present, you know, within everything that we’re doing. Not focusing on anything external and really just focusing on, uh, the internal.
Reporter: Darian, How much, how much do you think you kind of, I don't know, maybe got more comfortable with the team, with the offense over the course of, you know, summer workouts and everything?
Darien Mensah: A lot more comfortable, obviously. You know, just spending time with the guys, I've gotten a little... gotten to know them a lot more. And I think that, like I, they've been very receptive to me as a, as a leader. And, you know, I'm very thankful for that. So, you know, being out here day one, just another step. Can't wait to get back out there.
Reporter: How much does that mean coming to a new program and [Darian clears throat] walking into, like, the family culture that they have here and, it has to ease the transition, not just from a personal standpoint, but also a football standpoint?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, definitely. And I think the, the leaders of this team, just emphasize, you know, family and, and the culture here. And, and that was apparent when I 1st got here. So, it, it definitely did ease the, the transition for me.
Reporter: Darian, Mario was saying that your approach as a leader, you know, you have a... the ability to change the perspective of your teammates when it comes to certain things. Why is it so important for you to have that impact as, you know, whether it's taking the time to, you know, take your teammates to learn new things? Like, why is that important for you as a leader?
Darian Mensah: It's kinda just who I am. Like, I, I think I connect with people by just getting to know them and, and, and talking to them. I'm not the rip your head off and, and scream at you. I'm, I'm gonna just talk you through, you know , what you need to do to, to be better. And so that's kind of just my approach as a, as a leader. But, I think it's the most helpful within younger cats, especially in the receiver room, just to let them know, like, just breathe and play your game. And just to know that, you know, you're, you're playing the game that you played your whole life and to have fun. So, that's kinda my approach, when it comes to leadership.
Reporter: And when it comes to actually blending, you know, guys that have been here for a while to the new guys, you know, guys in their 1st time, what have you seen the most of kind of seeing the veterans getting everybody together too and building the culture for the next couple of weeks?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, it's just about holding everybody accountable. Whether you're a freshman or a, a 6th year senior, you've, you've, you've gotta be accountable. You've gotta... you need to be where you have to be, each and every day. And so, I think the leaders of this team have done a great job, upholding that.
Reporter: How's the relationship going with Shannon as far as finding things that work for you, but also work with the skill set of the guys that you have?
Darian Mensah: It's been great. You know, I've been saying it. I feel like I've said it, like, 1,000 times that he, morphs the offense around the quarterback. And, he's fine with changing things, in order to make me feel comfortable out there. And so, I definitely appreciate that as a quarterback.
Reporter: It looked like, you and OJ, during one of the one-on-one drills... I don’t know. What was... how much do you guys, I guess, maybe kind of tease each other, talk trash to each other? You, you went all the way.
Darian Mensah: [laughs] Yeah. I don't really talk trash, but, I mean, when he's... When, when somebody is, is chirping at my team, then I gotta chirp back. And, he's just an ultimate competitor, great player. And that's just, you know, 2 competitors going at it. Nothing else.
Reporter: Darian, what are you seeing from the other quarterbacks in the room, Luke, Judd, Dereon, etc? Just what's the chemistry like of that room?
Darian Mensah: The chemistry is A1 in that room. I love all of those guys. It's a, it's a lot of fun to be a part of that room. But I think a lot of growth has happened on the field as well, as far as taking care of the football. I, I don't think we threw any picks today. So that's good to see. And I think that we've also gotten better at just putting the ball in play to our, to our play makers.
Reporter: Darian, what's all been the most difficult part of the transition for you and what has been a little bit easier than you anticipated?
Darian Mensah: Yeah, I got this question yesterday. Nothing was... [chuckles] To be honest, it wasn't that hard to transition. Like I said, the guys on the team were just very receptive to me, and, and welcomed me-like family. And so, it was a, a pretty seamless transition when I 1st got here. But it's just about, you know, upholding the standard, and continuing to put in the work.
Reporter: This team's really good at the skill position, both receiver and DB. I imagine in practice that creates tight windows for you and stuff. How is that affecting your progression as a quarterback?
Darian Mensah: It just makes me [chuckles] gotta be on time, and in early with the throws. And it makes you gotta...you have to make NFL-type throws. And so, having elite, you know, offensive and, and defensive skill players, just means you've gotta have that, that level of play that, that's that elite as well. So, makes me that much better.
Reporter: A fun one on Mali. Just you've been a part of football your whole life. Have you ever seen a player kind of have the celebrity that he's garnered at like, 19 years old?
Darian Mensah: [laughs] I don't think so. He is... He just deserves it all too. Like, he’s one of the hardest working dudes on this team. Humble. And I kinda... I've, I've told this to people before. He's... You get a, a big time receiver, usually they expect the ball. And then when they don't get the ball... I think he on-he only had, like, a few targets today. And, you know, usually they'll start complaining. He won't say a word. He'll just keep running his routes continue to get open. And I think that’s what's the most special about him is, you know, how humble he is.
Reporter: Working with this O-line, I, I know Coach Mirabal likes to, you know cross-train guys, rotate everyone around. Does that make things, I don’t know, more difficult? Does that help? what does that do when you're g-you know, trying to get prepared for season, like, when they're rotating kind of all over?
Darian Mensah: I wouldn't say it makes things difficult. If anything, it just makes me more aware of who's in, heightens my awareness. You know, having SJ at center, it's a, a different type of snap compared to double R. So, I wouldn't say anything's different. It just makes us have to mesh that much better upfront.
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