The Duke Blue Devils have gotten ripped for Darian Mensah's departure via the transfer portal.
The Duke Blue Devils are now scrambling to find a quarterback after Darian Mensah bolted the team for the transfer portal at the very last minute last week.
Mensah has left Duke in quite a lurch, as the Blue Devils were fully expecting to head into 2026 with Mensah under center. And considering Mensah posted a video on social media the month prior saying he wanted to "run it back," who could blame them?
Nevertheless, Mensah — who actually transferred to Duke from Tulane the offseason prior — decided to pursue what he feels are greener pastures.
His decision has been heavily scrutinized, as the 20-year-old signed a two-year, $8 million NIL contract with the Blue Devils last year.
And while most are feeling sympathy for Duke, Sam Morales of The Athletic views it a bit differently.
"I feel bad for Duke. But at the same time, I don’t," Morales wrote. "You have to know who you’re doing business with. One of the main talking points when Mensah transferred there last year from Tulane was how much money he was making, just like when Nico Iamaleava originally signed with Tennessee."
Darian Mensah. Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images.As a result, Morales does not think the Blue Devils should be shocked that Mensah decided to leave the program.
"You can’t be surprised when these players who sign with you because of these big money deals leave and look around for more," Morales added.
I mean, sure, but at the same time, Mensah could have revealed his decision to enter the transfer portal in late December ... or at least did it when the transfer portal window officially opened on Jan. 2. Or even that first week.
Why wait until the very last second to announce that you are leaving?
Go ask the players in Duke's locker room how they feel about Mensah's choice, or even some of the players who transferred to the Blue Devils thinking Mensah would be taking snaps next fall.
It's definitely a product of a broken system, and it's true that Duke probably shouldn't be too flabbergasted. But the Blue Devils should have at least gotten the courtesy of knowing ahead of time so they could make other plans.
We'll see what Duke decides to do at quarterback for next season.