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Former Duke QB Darian Mensah is speaking out for the first time after his controversial transfer portal move.
Earlier this month, Mensah was sued by Duke, which accused him of violating his NIL contract after he announced he wanted to enter the transfer portal.
Mensah and Duke eventually settled the lawsuit, allowing for the QB to transfer to Miami.
“We are pleased to announce that Darian Mensah, supported by our team of legal counsel and Young Money APAA Sports, has reached a settlement agreement with Duke University,” a statement from Mensah’s representatives read. “Darian extends his sincere gratitude to Duke University for engaging in good-faith discussions and reaching this resolution. He wishes the Blue Devils, Coach Diaz, the staff, and the entire fan base continued success for the seasons ahead.”
On Friday, Mensah sat down with ON3’s Pete Nakos and explained his decision to transfer to Miami. According to Mensah, he felt that going to Miami would improve his chances of making it to the NFL and becoming a first-round draft pick.
Via ON3 Sports
“Miami is going to take me to the place I want to go, which is ultimately the NFL,” he told On3. “They’ve got NFL coaches. Coach [Shannon] Dawson, what he does with quarterbacks, his track record is pretty amazing, and it’s something I wanted to be a part of. The way coach [Mario] Cristobal protects the quarterback, he’s always going to have a solid O-line and then the weapons just all around the team and everyone that’s a part of Miami. Seemed like it was a great fit for me.
“I want to make the NFL. I want to be a first-round draft pick. And all signs point towards Miami. Miami’s done it. If you watch what they do, they win. It’s just something I wanted to be a part of. I’ve always bet on myself, and I always will. I’ve done it once, and I’ll do it again. I want to be one of the best.”
During his interview, Mensah refused to address Duke fans, who are not happy about him transferring to Miami.
Asked Darian Mensah if he had any message to Duke fans: “What do I want to say to Duke fans? I’ll probably just leave that alone. To be honest, they’re pretty hostile towards me. I’m obviously grateful for all the support I’ve received during the season. Duke’s a special place.… https://t.co/t8dJv0Rl7m
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) January 30, 2026