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Darian Mensah to return to Duke for 2026 season

Danby: Daniel Hager12/19/25DanielHagerOn3

Duke star quarterback Darian Mensah will return to the program for the 2026 season, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. The 2025 Second Team All-ACC selection is expected to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Mensah, who transferred to the program from Tulane prior to the 2025 season, was remarkable for head coach Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils in his first season in Durham. Mensah’s 3,646 passing yards ranked fourth most in the country, while his 30 passing touchdowns ranked fifth most in the country.

With the San Luis Obispo, CA native leading the charge, Duke defeated No. 17 Virginia in the ACC Championship Game to win its first conference title since 1989. In the 27-20 OT victory, Mensah passed for 196 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Because of its 8-5 record, however, Sun Belt Champion James Madison was selected over the Blue Devils for the College Football Playoff.

Following the win over Virginia, however, Diaz campaigned hard for his program to make the CFP. During his postgame monologue, he called Mensah ‘the best damn quarterback in the country’.

“They don’t have wins like this,” the coach said about James Madison. “They don’t have a win against a team like that. That’s a big-time team right there in Virginia and — seven wins in this conference? Seven Power Four wins. Compared to zero? That’s a playoff team. Darian Mensah might be the best damn quarterback in the country. These guys deserve to be in.”

Darian Mensah was one of the highest-paid players in college football this season

Mensah surpassed 300 passing yards in five of 12 games this season, with his best game coming against Clemson on Nov. 1. In the gutsy 46-45 win over the Tigers, the Duke quarterback completed 27/41 passes for 361 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He will likely enter the 2026 season as one of the preseason Heisman favorites.

As a freshman at Tulane in 2024, Mensah passed for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions. After opting to enter the Transfer Portal, Mensah chose Duke after being offered $3 million for his first season in Durham, making him one of the highest-paid players in college football.

Being able to play in the Power Four and set his family up for financial success were two key factors in the equation for Mensah to leave Tulane and enter the transfer portal. It’s part of the evolving college quarterback equation, especially when weighing the transfer portal and the NFL. 

“Obviously, the NIL component was pretty important, but it wasn’t the primary focus,” Mensah told On3’s Pete Nakos in June. “The primary focus is to play in the NFL, so I feel like Duke is a place where I can achieve that. During the season, I just let my agent, Noah [Reisenfeld] and Adie[von Gontard], I feel like they did a phenomenal job keeping me focused on what I needed to do during the season. I’m at where I am now, so I’m grateful for them.”

The move has more than paid off for both parties. That leaves both Mensah and Duke with high expectations for the 2026 season.