ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported on Friday afternoon that Miami “looms as the early favorite” to land potential Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah.
CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz reported earlier on Friday that Duke had “concerns” that Mensah could enter the portal.
If Mensah, who led the Blue Devils to an ACC title this past season, does decide to transfer, there will be plenty of suitors waiting. Thamel believes Miami would top that list for Mensah’s services in 2026, and he also reported on Friday that SEC rivals Tennessee and Ole Miss could be in the mix for Mensah, with the Rebels and Volunteers having “quarterback potential need” along with the Hurricanes.
Mensah transferred to Duke for the 2025 season after spending the 2023 and 2024 campaigns at Tulane. If Mensah does leave Duke, he would’ve made his one season in Durham count, throwing for a whopping 3,973 yards with 34 touchdown passes and just 6 interceptions. Both the yards and touchdowns were the second-most in the FBS this season.
The California native led Duke to an overtime victory over Virginia in the ACC Championship Game last month, but right now his status is reportedly in limbo as he decides where to play in 2026.
Miami has its focus right now on the 2025 season, with the Canes facing Indiana in the national title game on Monday night. But with starting quarterback Carson Beck leaving for the NFL after he plays that game, Miami will have a big void at the quarterback position, and Thamel believes Mensah could be the Canes’ answer in 2026.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
