Duke announced the addition of transfer quarterback Darian Mensah from Tulane, landing what many considered the top signal-caller available in the portal this offseason.
The redshirt sophomore brings immediate credibility to a program looking to build on last season’s nine-win campaign.
Mensah threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions in his first season as Tulane’s starter. He led the AAC with a 65.9% completion percentage, 9.5 yards per attempt and a 166.7 passer rating.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked Mensah as the 32nd-most important player in college football this season.
“Duke was a mini-Michigan last season, playing good enough defense to win nine games despite no run game and a passing game Manny Diaz disliked so much that he immediately went out and grabbed Mensah with what was believed to be a big-money deal. At Tulane in 2024, Mensah was excellent for a redshirt freshman; if he becomes simply excellent, period, why shouldn’t the Blue Devils be considered contenders? (Especially with a light conference schedule featuring only one projected top-40 ACC team?)”
The 6-foot-3 quarterback didn’t see action in his first year with the Green Wave after transferring from California. He also added 132 rushing yards and a touchdown despite sacks counting against rushing totals in college football.
Head coach Manny Diaz targeted Mensah specifically to address the team’s passing game struggles from 2024.
The Blue Devils finished last season with one of the conference’s weaker aerial attacks despite their overall success. Duke’s defense carried much of the load during their nine-win campaign.
Mensah’s arrival signals the program’s commitment to competing in an expanded ACC that now includes several West Coast programs.
The right-handed passer brings both arm talent and mobility to Durham. His completion percentage and yards per attempt numbers ranked among the best in the Group of Five last season.
Duke opens the 2025 season with what Connelly described as a favorable conference schedule featuring limited matchups against projected top-tier ACC opponents.
