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Max Olson
Duke beginning quarterback Darian Mensah is getting into the NCAA switch portal.
Mensah submitted his request for switch paperwork Friday, forward of the midnight deadline for FBS and FCS gamers to enter the portal.
“This wasn’t a simple resolution, however after speaking with my household, I consider it is in my greatest curiosity to enter the switch portal,” Mensah said in a post on X.
Miami looms because the anticipated favourite in Mensah’s recruitment when he formally turns into accessible. The Hurricanes have signed switch quarterbacks in consecutive years — Cam Ward and Carson Beck — and haven’t landed one through the two-week switch window that opened Jan. 2.
Mensah had determined Dec. 19 to return to Duke for his redshirt junior season after exploring the potential of getting into the NFL draft. He was No. 5 in Mel Kiper Jr.’s quarterback rankings for the 2026 draft earlier than his newest resolution.
The quarterback was getting into the second yr of a two-year take care of Duke that will pay him as much as $4 million in 2026. If Mensah leaves Duke, sources advised ESPN’s Pete Thamel that his contract grants the college his unique identify, picture and likeness rights, which may forestall Mensah from incomes revenue-sharing cash at his subsequent college until Duke terminates its deal. There’s not a selected buyout quantity in Mensah’s contract with Duke, sources advised Thamel.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound redshirt sophomore from San Luis Obispo, California, transferred from Tulane to Duke after the 2024 season and led the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC championship since 1962 with a 27-20 time beyond regulation upset of No. 17 Virginia within the convention title sport.
Mensah earned second-team All-ACC honors after producing a conference-leading 3,973 passing yards on 67% passing with 35 whole touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has began 27 profession video games at Tulane and Duke, and has two extra years of eligibility.
If Mensah departs this system on the ultimate day of the NCAA switch window, it’s going to put coach Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils in a troublesome place with few confirmed choices accessible within the portal.
Backup quarterback Henry Belin IV already entered the portal as a graduate switch and dedicated to Missouri State on Thursday.
Duke closed out a 9-5 season with a 42-39 victory over Arizona State within the Tony the Tiger Solar Bowl on Dec. 31.
