Darian Mensah opens up on Duke move, NIL contract: 'Set my family up for financial freedom'

Midway through last season, Darian Mensah began to realize he was one of the top underclassman quarterbacks in the country. Mensah completed 65.9% of his passes and led Tulane to the American Athletic Conference title game and a 9-4 record in his first year as a starter.

As Mensah emerged onto the national college football scene, it also became clear he was going to have the chance to transfer and make a payday. He closed out the year throwing for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns. With three years of eligibility remaining, he would be one of the top available quarterbacks if he hit college football free agency.

In mid-December, Mensah entered the portal after conferring with his agents at Young Money APAA Sports. Days later, after visiting Duke, he committed to the Blue Devils. In a stunning move, Duke also committed to paying him more than $3 million in his first season in Durham, making him one of the highest-paid players in college football.

“It was very tough to leave my home,” Mensah told On3. “I was at Tulane for two years, super grateful for that place. It made me who I am today. Definitely not easy to leave all my teammates, those are my guys. But I wanted to play in a competitive conference like the ACC, in the Power Four. And I knew this move would set my family up for financial freedom. Those are some of the things that went into that decision. I feel like Manny, when we met in the portal, he’s the kind of guy when he talks, you listen. I wanted to play for a head coach like him.”

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 said. “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.”

When Mensah initially entered the transfer portal, he said he received interest from most of the SEC. But once he visited Duke, he felt comfortable and confident that he could develop in Manny Diaz’s program. Mensah admitted he didn’t initially view Duke as a top destination, but that quickly changed.

“I spoke to a bunch of programs, my agents did for me,” he said. “Thinking of Duke as the top name at first, for sure, I’d say, was a little bit surprising. But I did my research, because it’s a pretty big decision, and after doing my research, this was the best opportunity for me to get to where I want.”

Duke watched starting quarterback Maalik Murphy transfer out after putting together a 9-3 season. With the need at quarterback, the Blue Devils went all-in on Mensah, who ranked as On3’s No. 4 quarterback in the portal.

Mensah redshirted in 2023 at Tulane and entered last year’s fall camp behind Ty Thompson and Kai Horton on the depth chart. But he won the starting job in fall camp, and had the Green Wave in the College Football Playoff conversation at the midseason mark.

The quarterback said Duke’s pitch and his relationship with Diaz made the difference in his portal recruitment.

“They had a clear vision for me that they set out,” Mensah said. “I liked that. Coach Manny has a defensive mind, and just having that perspective when watching film. We try to watch tape two to three times a week, and having an elite defensive perspective when it comes to knowing defenses is crucial.”

The Duke offense is also expected to look different this fall. Offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer has worked closely with the quarterback to bring in pieces of the offense that Mensah is most comfortable with.

“Easily the best thing is how much coach Brewer has catered the offense to things that I like to do, moving around the pocket, a lot more drop back, quick game, just getting the ball in my hands fast,” Mensah said. “It’s all stuff that I like to do. So new style of offense this year, but all the stuff that I like to do.”

Mensah knows that the price tag on his transfer to Duke is going to continue to make headlines throughout the rest of his college career. He’s become comfortable with it and knows that the decision made a difference for his family.

Originally from Lakewood, California, he was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. Getting so much attention when he entered the portal and transferred to Duke “definitely felt good,” he said, but he’s tried not to remain complacent.

Mensah has his own house and car in Durham, part of the luxury of his multi-million dollar deal. But his goals have remained the same: Make the CFP and win the Heisman Trophy.

“Our defense can be one of the best in the country this year,” Mensah said. “We’re going to wake some people up. They’ve made it pretty easy for me. I just have to go out and put up points. We’re going to do that. The playoffs are defintley a feat I think we can accomplish. I’m trying to be one of the best in the country next year. Trying to be in New York City.”