Duke WR Cooper Barkate enters the NCAA Transfer Portal

Duke senior receiver Cooper Barkate, who led the Blue Devils in receiving this past season, has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Barkate is expected to have one season of collegiate eligibility remaining after qualifying for a redshirt in 2022.

Barkate, who transferred to Duke last offseason following a three-year career at Harvard, hauled in a team-high 72 receptions for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games for the Blue Devils in 2025. That followed a three-year career with the Crimson, where he combined for 113 receptions for 1,742 yards and 14 touchdowns in three years (2022-24). That included a breakout junior season in which he led the team with 63 receptions for 1,084 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024.

Barkate signed with Harvard as a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle out of famed Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), where he was ranked as the No. 70th player out of California, the No. 139 receiver in the class and the No. 984 player overall, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted algorithm that compiles all major recruiting media services.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Barkate’s news comes at the same time Duke learned that starting quarterback Darian Mensah entered the portal though news had come on Friday that he would enter.

Duke QB Darian Mensah enters transfer portal

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is also officially entering the transfer portal, sources tell On3. The former Tulane transfer led the Blue Devils to an ACC championship in his lone season in Durham. He’s represented by Young Money APAA Sports.

Sources tell On3 that Miami is the clear team to watch in this recruitment. Mensah threw for 3,646 yards with 30 touchdowns and a 68% completion percentage. His total passing yards ranked No. 3 in FBS in 2025, leading the ACC. He was fifth in FBS in passing touchdowns, too.

Duke was paying Mensah at the top of the market for starting quarterbacks after he signed a two-year, $8 million deal after transferring from Tulane last offseason. He was an all-ACC selection in 2025 afer guiding the Blue Devils to wins in their final three games of the season. He instantly becomes the top available quarterback in the transfer portal, with the window to notify schools set to close at midnight on Friday.

Mensah’s contract calls for Duke to have his exclusive NIL rights and only the Blue Devils have the ability to cancel that. Sources have also told On3 that there is no buyout, despite his decision to enter the portal a breach of contract.

— On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report.