There’s the perception that quarterback Darian Mensah transferred to Duke because the Blue Devils offered top dollar in terms of NIL.
“Obviously, it wasn’t just about money,” he said Thursday in an interview at the ACC Football Kickoff. “I’m not wired that way.
“It’s the opportunity to compete in the ACC, a competitive conference, with an elite head coach like Manny Diaz and in an offense where I’ve got the freedom to do what I want.”
Mensah paused and smiled, adding, “I mean, who wouldn’t want to play quarterback here?”
Mensah played quarterback well enough at Tulane last season to be one of the top portal players available when he decided to leave the program in December.
The Green Wave had a 9-4 season as Mensah passed for 2,273 yards and 22 touchdowns, with six interceptions. He led the American Athletic Conference in passing efficiency and pass-completion percentage as a redshirt freshman, proving wrong a lot of college coaches who overlooked him and underrecruited him.
After his senior year at St. Joseph’s High in San Luis Obispo, California, Mensah first fielded two recruiting offers: Idaho State and Lindenwood University, a Missouri school that just transitioned up to FCS level football in 2022.
Not exactly UCLA, which he said was always his “dream” school and where he wanted to play college football
But then came Tulane, giving him a chance to play at a higher level.
Then came Duke, giving him a chance to play at a higher level and be well compensated for it.
Several media outlets, including CBS Sports, reported Mensah will receive $4 million in each of the next two seasons. While Duke does not release coaches’ contracts, that’s believed to approximately match Diaz’s annual salary and could heighten the pressure to perform for Mensah.
“If the numbers as reported are true, you better play good,” ACC football analyst Tom Luginbill said on the ACC Network. “If that’s what the market dictates your value is, prove it.”
Duke was 9-4 last season, Diaz’s first year after replacing Mike Elko as coach. Mensah has replaced Maalik Murphy, who was the starting quarterback last season, and is considered an major upgrade with a high price tag,
Mensah used some of his NIL money to partner with the Single Moms Planet organization after the Southern California wildfires caused so much damage and distress. The non-profit, based in Santa Monica, tries to assist single mothers who need financial and other support to cope with their needs, and Mensah, raised by a single mother, wanted to be a part of the recovery effort in that way.
“I wanted to do something that was close to my heart,” Mensah said. “There were a lot of times I saw my mom struggling, mentally, physically, just providing for me and my siblings.”
Mensah’s mother, Naomi Brebs-Mensah, is an acupuncturist, her son said. And, yes, she has used the needles on him at times.
Anyway but on my face,” he said, chuckling. “But it does help. I’m big on taking care of my body and she helped me with that.”
Mensah also found another way to use his NIL earnings, taking some of his Duke wide receivers on a players-only trip to Tampa, Florida. The group got in some indoor workouts and went on the field at Leto High for some throwing and route-running. There was some fine dining and a relaxing yacht cruise.
“It was beneficial for sure, just being around the guys,” Mensah said “You’re getting chemistry down, getting your timing down. It was just super beneficial.”
Murphy was the guy leading the Duke offense last season, throwing for 2,900 yards and 26 TDs. A transfer from Texas, Murphy played a year in Durham and left for Oregon State. Backup quarterback Grayson Loftis also transferred after last season, going to Charlotte.
Diaz believes Mensah is the right fit for the Devils, with the ability to produce more explosive offensive plays this season, with the way he has quickly bonded with new teammates.
“This isn’t fantasy football,” Diaz said Thursday. “You have to look at not just the impact the player has on the field, but what they do in the locker room. You have to make sure you bring the right people into your program.
“The first question we ask any time we take a transfer is when that guy walks in the building, do the players say, ‘Thank God, that guy is here.’ If that guy walks in and it’s ‘Why did we bring him in?’ in theory that’s a problem. When we add, we want it to be for the right reason and with the right people.”
Defensive end Wesley Williams, in Charlotte for the ACC Kickoff, said Mensah fits the description of “right people” – as a quarterback, as a person.
“He’s a great guy, a great leader, super easy to be around,” Williams said. “He’s come in and gotten along with the team great. I don’t know anyone who has had a problem with him.
“Obviously, the football speaks for itself. He’s got a rocket arm and has gotten stronger. That mobile threat is there. I’m super excited to see him work.”
The Blue Devils open the season Aug. 28 against Elon. On Sept. 13, they travel to New Orleans to play Mensah’s old school, Tulane.
