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Duke

Manny Diaz recalls recruiting process of Darian Mensah

Danby: Daniel Hager05/31/25DanielHagerOn3
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Nov 2, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz watches from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Nov 16, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Darian Mensah (10) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah, who led Tulane to the AAC title game as a redshirt freshman in 2024, committed to Duke out of the Transfer Portal on December 11. Mensah was one of the top players available in the portal and will be replacing former Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy, who transferred to Oregon State.

Duke head coach Manny Diaz discussed his new quarterback on the College GameDay podcast on May 20.

“Darian was as accomplished as a quarterback as their was,” Diaz told ESPN’s Rece Davis. “We certainly felt he was the best in the Portal at that time. The question was ‘would he be interested in us?’ and I think that was really the exciting thing. He certainly was attracted to the academics at Duke and what this degree could do for him going forward, but he also saw our style of play on offense in year one where we were still not the fully operational Death Star, but just enough of it identity wise to say that’s somewhere I want to be.”

Mensah led Tulane to 9-4 record last season

Mensah is one of the brightest arms in the sport, as he threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns (just six interceptions) last season. His breakout performance came on November 7, 2024, when he passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 loss to Kansas State. He led Tulane to a 9-4 record as the starter, though the Green Wave lost their last two games to fall out of College Football Playoff contention.

“I thought the coaches at Tulane did a phenomenal job of developing him and setting him up for success,” Diaz continued. “I really felt like he thought this would be something he really wanted to be a part of and getting him in the spring, he has been what we hoped for and beyond. Not just in terms of what he can do on the field, but really how he meshes with the guys in the locker room.”

In Manny Diaz’s first season as head coach in 2024, the Blue Devils finished with a 9-4 record with a loss to Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.

“If you look at any level now of quarterback play, you’ve got to be able to improvise. From my background of being a defensive coach, the quarterbacks that can execute the play the offensive coordinator calls… they’re tough to defend. But the ones who can execute the play that a defensive coordinator can take away and then it breaks down and they can create on their own, you could even see it in the spring time with Darian’s ability.”

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp also contributed to this report.