Fresh off an ACC title, the star transfer brings Heisman ambitions to Coral Gables, anchoring an explosive new offense.
MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes star Darian Mensah was named to the Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list, announced on Thursday, annually presented to the nation's top quarterback.
The 21-year-old joined the Coral Gables program following a remarkable season at Duke. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference by throwing for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns. Despite getting sacked 28 times, Mensah still delivered outstanding production. He led the Blue Devils program to its first conference title since 1989.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes made a run to the National Championship game.
Despite losing several key players to the transfer portal or NFL Draft, Mensah kept the team in contention status ahead of the regular season. He is looking to follow the same path to success as Cam Ward and Carson Beck.
However, Mensah is expected to exceed both. He has all the tools and intangibles to carve out a successful season. Alongside him came former Duke teammate and wide receiver Cooper Barkate. He was Mensah’s most-targeted playmaker. Barkate caught 72 passes for 1,106 yards and scored seven touchdowns last season.
Others in the wide receiver room include Vance Spafford, Somourian Wingo, Vandrevius Jacobs, Daylyn Upshaw, Joshua Moore, and rising college football star Malachi Toney.
In the backfield, Mensah will have different types of running backs to hand the football to. Girard Pringle Jr. has speed, CharMar Brown has power, and local star Mark Fletcher Jr. has a combination of both.
Regardless of a reshaped offensive line, Mensah has proven to operate efficiently in unstable circumstances. He can extend plays with his legs, has a high football IQ, and is exceptionally accurate.
Mensah has an opportunity to lead an explosive offense, which will result in team success and individual accolades. He’s received several other preseason and watch list honors:
- ACC Preseason Player of the Year
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (QB)
- Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List
- Walter Camp Award Preseason Watch List
The Heisman Trophy is another expected to be in the realm of possibility.
Other Power Four candidates:
- BYU’s Bear Bachmeier
- North Carolina State’s CJ Bailey
- UCF’s Alonza Barnett III
- Penn State’s Rocco Becht
- Auburn’s Byrum Brown
- Notre Dame’s CJ Carr
- Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss
- Utah Utes’ Devon Dampier
- Arizona’s Noah Fifita
- Indiana’s Josh Hoover
- SMU’s Kevin Jennings
- LSU’s Sam Leavitt
- USC’s Jayden Maiava
- Texas’ Arch Manning
- Oklahoma’s John Mateer
- Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker
- Oregon’s Dante Moore
- Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed
- Cal’s Jaron-Keawe
- Ohio State’s Julian Sayin
- Georgia’s Gunner Stockton
- Houston’s Connor Weigman
- Washington’s Demond Williams Jr.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
