Miami cleared to poach Duke's top offensive playmakers after settlement

Miami is set to pull off one of the most important transfer portal moves of the cycle, targeting Duke’s top offensive playmakers. 

This comes after Duke and quarterback Darian Mensah announced a settlement Tuesday. The former $4 million signal-caller is now free to enroll at Miami and begin preparations for the 2026 season. The agreement clears the final hurdle after a temporary restraining order briefly delayed his transfer following his Jan. 16 portal entry.

Mensah arrived on campus Monday and remains in Coral Gables, with Miami also expected to land his top receiver target, Cooper Barkate, Duke’s leading pass catcher in 2025. 

This move caught the attention of The Athletic's Stewart Mandel, who discussed this with Bruce Feldman on the latest The Audible podcast.

As @BruceFeldmanCFB said on The Audible, Miami is currently dunking its former coach's head in the toilet, poaching both his star QB and 1,100-yard receiver. https://t.co/WtsnyOwAYe

The potential pairing would reunite one of the ACC’s most productive duos under Mario Cristobal, who spent the cycle searching for a transfer quarterback after Carson Beck’s departure.

More: Curt Cignetti slams Big 12 refs over Miami's 'dirty' play in title game

Mensah led the Blue Devils to an ACC championship in 2025, throwing for 3,646 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 68% of his passes. His production ranked among the nation’s best, and his arrival is expected to reset the market at the position. 

The move carries extra weight given Duke is now coached by Manny Diaz, who once led Miami. By targeting Diaz’s top offensive weapons, Miami is going at this aggressively and with an unapologetic approach in the modern transfer era. It's also one that prioritizes immediate contention over past loyalties.

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