The Miami Hurricanes land another elite transfer quarterback. All-ACC Darian Mensah arrives, promising explosive plays and building on a championship legacy.
The Miami Hurricanes found tremendous success with transfer portal quarterbacks in recent years. It started with Cam Ward in 2024, coming from the Washington State Cougars and the Pac-12 before its dissolution. After one season with the program, he was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, an All-American, finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, and became the first pick in the NFL draft.
Most recently, it was Carson Beck, coming from the Georgia Bulldogs, who led the Hurricanes to their first National Championship appearance in over two decades. The trend will continue as it was reported on Tuesday that quarterback Darian Mensah has signed with the program.
The 21-year-old is coming off a spectacular season with the Duke Blue Devils, completing 334 out of 500 passes, 66.8 percent, for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns, both of which led the ACC. He played a massive role in delivering the program its eighth ACC football championship, first since 1989, and was named the ACC Championship Game MVP.
The arrival of Mensah didn't come easily, as the Blue Devils presented a lawsuit in an attempt to keep him from entering the transfer portal and stay with them. However, before the case reached court, both sides agreed on a settlement.
"We are committed to fulfilling all promises and obligations Duke makes to our student-athletes when we enter into contractual agreements with them, and we expect the same in return," according to a statement by the university.
"We thank Darian for his contributions to Duke University."
Mensah has great eyes down the field, the ability to throw long passes while limiting mistakes, finishing with six interceptions this past season, tied for the third-fewest in the ACC. He can create more opportunities for the Hurricanes to run more explosive plays, especially involving star wide receiver Malachi Toney.
The Blue Devils finished the season with the eighth most rushing yards in the ACC, 1,934, led by Nate Sheppard. Mensah is going to have tremendous upgrades in the backfield as Mark Fletcher Jr., CharMar Brown, Girard Pringle Jr., and Jordan Lyle are set to return.
Also, the Hurricanes acquired a couple of veteran wide receivers from the transfer portal in Cam Vaughn and Vandrevius Jacobs. Plus, they retained Josh Moore, who was part of the same recruiting class as Toney, Bryce Fitzgerald, Pringle Jr., and Daylyn Upshaw.
Given an early analysis of the Hurricanes' 2026-27 schedule, Mensah could lead the program to its first undefeated season since 2001, its first ACC title ever, and carve another National Championship run.
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