Duke star quarterback Darian Mensah plans to enter the switch portal, a number of sources advised CBS Sports activities. Mensah is without doubt one of the highest-paid quarterbacks within the nation after signing a multiyear deal final offseason that pays him $4 million yearly, in keeping with sources.
His title has surfaced repeatedly this cycle as a doubtlessly movable quarterback in conversations with trade sources, and that chatter solely intensified within the closing hours of the 2026 portal window as quarterback-needy packages look so as to add a confirmed passer.
Mensah emerged as an all-ACC choice in his first 12 months with Duke, ending the 2025 season second nationally with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound California native transferred to Duke final offseason from Tulane.
Why now for Mensah?
Mensah and Duke had been a great partnership in the course of the 2025 season. Duke spent huge to land him, and it led to an ACC championship. In the meantime, Mensah emerged as one of many really elite passers on the Energy 4 degree, ending within the high 10 nationally in nearly each main passing class.
There have been even reviews final month that Mensah determined to return to Duke for the 2026 season, passing on the NFL Draft to take action.
At the moment there have been rumors Mensah may think about the portal. He was a preferred potential title for a number of faculties, however he appeared to close all that down halfway by means of December.
However in latest days, Mensah’s title started to choose up steam once more speaking with trade sources. There are a number of QB-needy groups with out options to their quarterback points, and no actual solutions to be discovered within the portal. The highest 26 quarterbacks within the 247Sports portal rankings are all accounted for and the one quarterback within the high 50 with beginning expertise is EJ Colson, who’s coming from Incarnate Phrase.
Mensah immediately turns into essentially the most in-demand prospect within the portal.
Trade sources additionally think about Mensah’s contract language with Duke to be extra stringent than these of different contracts throughout school soccer, which is able to make it tougher for Mensah to get out of his deal.
Miami curiosity?
Earlier this week, CBS Sports activities reported that Miami was aggressively looking for a quarterback to switch the graduating Carson Beck, and their listing of targets may embody names not but within the switch portal. The Hurricanes pursued Ty Simpson, however the former Alabama quarterback reaffirmed his dedication to the NFL Draft.
No. 10 Miami will face No. 1 Indiana on Monday evening within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship at Exhausting Rock Stadium, a surreal setting that underscores each how shortly this system has risen and the way fragile that ascent might be with out the suitable quarterback. Over the previous two seasons, the Hurricanes have leaned aggressively on veteran transfers to gasoline their climb, pulling off strikes few packages can match.
Miami satisfied Cam Ward to withdraw from the 2024 NFL Draft, a choice that finally led to him changing into the No. 1 total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft. The Hurricanes adopted that by touchdown Carson Beck, who reversed course after initially declaring for the draft following 4 seasons at Georgia.
Each strikes had been transfer-portal coups. Each had been calculated dangers. And each labored precisely as meant. Might Mensah be the the following in line?
What would Duke do?
Mensah resolution places the Blue Devils in an especially tough place.
There’s only some hours left within the 2026 switch portal window and only a few starter-quality gamers left on the board at quarterback. Duke’s room has additionally skilled a lot upheaval in the course of the portal window, with backup QB Henry Belin transferring to Missouri State.
The Blue Devils did add North Alabama QB switch Ari Patu, and so they’re optimistic about the way forward for true freshman quarterback Dan Mahan.
Nonetheless, a starter, not to mention an All-American candidate, leaving on the final second could be devastating for Duke’s hopes of repeating as ACC champions in 2026.
