In a move that has Tulane aficionados clenching their fists, Darian Mensah, the quarterback virtuoso who was the crux of the Green Wave's offense, has shifted gears to join the Duke Blue Devils. According to WVUE, Mensah, a top pick in the ESPN transfer portal rankings, made his announcement today, revealing his new allegiance and leaving Tulane to confront a future without their star player.
Mensah, who blasted onto the college football scene with 2,723 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, was a cornerstone in the Green Wave's 9-4 record-breaking season—alas, his departure comes in the wake of Tulane's defeat in the AAC Championship Game where they suffered a 35-14 loss to Army, his undeniable prowess now redirected to a Duke team who saw their own starting quarterback Maalik Murphy transfer out after their 9-3 season. The dual-threat quarterback, retaining three years of eligibility, finds his new turf as Tulane is left navigating an unpredictable future, one that has Ty Thompson, the only experienced quarterback on their roster, potentially taking the reins, with his competition, Kai Horton, also having opted for the transfer portal as reported by WDSU.
Duke's coach Manny Diaz has been instrumental in Mensah's big decision, "He gets you going; he's legit," Mensah told ABC11, during an interview where he praised the coach's influence and the team's defensive line. His decision was not only swayed by football prospects but also the academic prestige Duke offers; "It's a prestigious university, and a great education is also important to me," Mensah said, lauding the educational value of his new academic and athletic home.
This switcheroo scenario certainly spices up both Tulane's and Duke's narratives going forward, as they prepare to play in their respective bowl games with Tulane facing off against the University of Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl and Duke squaring off against Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl—it’s worth noting that Mensah won't be eligible for the Gator Bowl.
