Darian Mensah shocked the school soccer world this offseason together with his switch from the Duke Blue Devils to the Miami Hurricanes.
It wasn’t the switch itself that was essentially surprising. They occur on a regular basis these days.
It wasn’t even the intraconference drama. That occurs on a regular basis these days as nicely.
No … it was the best way issues went down.
Mensah had an amazing 2025 season for Duke and helped lead the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC title win since 1962. Within the course of, he threw for 3,937 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Mensah was anticipated to be a sizzling goal on the switch portal or a 2026 NFL Draft prospect, however he did not need to depart Durham. In actual fact, he determined to bypass the NFL Draft and he re-committed to Duke on Dec. 19 in an Instagram video.
“Let’s run this again,” Mensah had stated.
Then, on the final day of the switch portal being open in January, the Hurricanes got here calling with a proposal.
Mensah is now anticipated to make $6.5 million in 2026 because the beginning quarterback of the Hurricanes, and that features cash that should go to Duke for a settlement.
The Blue Devils had signed a two-year contract price $8 million with Mensah after they bought him to switch from Tulane. They sued him upon his entrance into the switch portal to attempt to cease his switch and to implement that multiyear NIL deal.
Issues bought messy, however Mensah instructed reporters at ACC soccer media days on Wednesday that he is not fearful about all of the controversy that surrounded his switch and what anyone might consider it.
“Enterprise is enterprise,” he stated, in line with Ross Dellenger of Yahoo.
Darian Mensah paid a private value for switch to Miami
That is the world we stay in these days, and Mensah’s ideas are the right encapsulation of the place faculty sports activities are at proper now.
Overlook issues like college pleasure, present relationships, and … you understand … lecturers.
It is all about enterprise within the NIL and switch portal period, and there is a ton of cash flowing in all instructions.
Satirically, although, Mensah’s mom, Naomi, instructed Dellenger that cash was not a consider Mensah’s resolution to depart Duke excessive and dry.
“Folks have been dragging Darian for pondering it was all about cash. It wasn’t. There was cash both approach,” she stated. “We seemed on the massive image of the place Darian needs to go. That finally was the selection. What was going to get him to his finish aim? He may go and win the ACC once more however may he get to a natty and win the Heisman?”
Mensah can have an opportunity to do each at Miami. The Hurricanes can be one of many favorites to win the School Soccer Playoff and Mensah is at present one of many betting favorites to win the Heisman.
The quarterback from San Luis Obispo, California, is actually in a greater place now, however it got here with a value.
Talking of value tags, his mother was very open as to the non-public value Mensah has paid within the court docket of public opinion.
“I would see folks saying he’s a traitor and has no coronary heart and he is not loyal and leaping from college to high school,” Naomi stated. “There was hate like, ‘(bleep) that man.’ It was laborious to see. The individuals who actually matter understood his reasoning and have been truly encouraging him to go.”
