The top-rated player in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings, Darian Mensah, has committed to Duke in the transfer portal. Mensah is a redshirt freshman quarterback with three years of eligibility remaining. This season with Tulane, Mensah threw for 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing 65.9% of his passes. The Green Wave had one of the top offenses in the American Athletic Conference, which can be attributed to Darian Mensah’s play at quarterback. This is a huge loss for Tulane, but a huge gain for Duke in the transfer portal.
Darian Mensah’s Time at Tulane

In his one season at Tulane, Darian Mensah and the Green Wave finished with a 9-4 record. After a 1-2 start with losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma, the Green Wave went on an eight-game win streak. During that streak, Tulane was dominating their opponents. They defeated South Florida 45-10, with Mensah throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns. They defeated UAB 71-20. They beat Charlotte 34-3, Temple 52-6, and Navy 35-0. And in many of these lopsided victories, Darian Mensah would be subbed out or not throw more than 25 passes. Mensah rarely had the opportunity to air it out, but Tulane beat conference opponents convincingly with a well-run offense.
This lasted until their final games of the season. Tulane lost at home to Memphis 34-24. Darian Mensah threw for 317 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. This loss squashed any chance the Green Wave had at making the College Football Playoff. They were ranked #17 at the time, but that loss, followed by a 35-14 loss to Army in the American Athletic Conference Championship made them finish 9-4, unranked. Against Army, Mensah threw for 209 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

After this, there were many rumors circling the Tulane program. A big one was the status of their head coach, Jon Sumrall. Sumrall was expected to pursue other coaching opportunities after his successful first season at Tulane. Kentucky and North Carolina were rumored landing spots, but Sumrall surprised many by taking a contract extension to stay at Tulane. Many believed he would jump to his alma mater, Kentucky. Around the same time as the coaching rumors, Darian Mensah entered the transfer portal.
It is another example of the brain drain that is becoming a trend with many modern college football programs. Players typically transfer due to lack of opportunity, but this season, whether a team is good or bad, players are entering the transfer portal left and right. A team like USC underperformed and many players, no matter how high on the depth chart, have entered the portal. But then, there are teams like Tulane, who were successful, yet still have players like Mensah leaving. It is a confusing, yet fascinating time in college football.
Darian Mensah Joining Duke

Darian Mensah’s new team, the Duke Blue Devils, are coming off a 9-3 season. Duke’s sophomore quarterback, Maalik Murphy also entered the transfer portal, opening up the starting job for Mensah. Murphy arguably had a better season than Mensah, throwing for 2,933 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His transfer was another surprise in the transfer portal, but that is what college football is now. Unless a program is a blue blood that can compete for a national championship every year, then the transfer portal seemingly works like free agency. Players will transfer no matter how good their team or position is on the depth chart.
That being said, getting Darian Mensah is a huge step for the Duke Blue Devils. It shows how far their football program has come after this successful season. If he can win the starting job and Duke can maintain the necessary pieces, then they could be another good team that can compete in the ACC. Maalik Murphy is out, but Darian Mensah is in.