Darian Mensah draws backlash for LeBron-style Duke announcement before transferring

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah plans to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple sources. This is a stunning reversal just one month after he publicly announced his return to the Blue Devils. 

Mensah, one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in college football, signed a multi-year NIL agreement last offseason that pays him roughly $4 million annually, according to sources. The move instantly reshapes the 2026 transfer portal landscape, where proven quarterbacks with Power Four experience are scarce.

An all-ACC selection in his first season at Duke, Mensah finished the 2025 campaign second nationally with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the Blue Devils to an ACC championship. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound California native transferred to Duke from Tulane last offseason and quickly became one of the league’s most efficient passers.

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In mid-December, Mensah appeared to shut down speculation about his future, releasing a video inspired by LeBron James’ 2010 free-agency announcement to confirm he would return to Duke and bypass the NFL draft. However, behind the scenes his name continued to surface in conversations for late solutions. While put together with good intentions, the video has been scrutinized on social media. 

The chatter intensified in recent days as the portal window neared its close. With most of the top-ranked quarterbacks already committed and few remaining options with starting experience, Mensah immediately becomes the most coveted player available. 

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Miami has emerged as the heavy favorite, according to 247Sports. The Hurricanes were aggressively pursuing a replacement for graduating quarterback Carson Beck. No. 10 Miami Hurricanes face No. 1 Indiana on Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship. 

For Duke, the timing is brutal. Backup Henry Belin transferred earlier in the window, leaving Ari Patu and freshman Dan Mahan as the remaining options with only hours left to respond.

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