The Duke Blue Devils found their quarterback of the future almost immediately in the transfer portal this offseason, getting Tulane’s [autotag]Darian Mensah[/autotag] to visit just one day after 2024 starter [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] announced he’d hit the portal.
Mensah committed the morning after his visit, and according to a Monday report from CBS Sports’ John Talty and Chris Hummer, the Blue Devils spared no expense in bringing him to Durham.
Talty and Hummer reported that Mensah received a name, image, and likeness compensation package worth $8 million over two years, which they unofficially declared the highest average annual value in the history of the sport.
On paper, it’s easy to see why both player and program believe in the partnership. Mensah finished with 2,723 passing yards, 132 rushing yards, and 23 total touchdowns against just six interceptions as a redshirt freshman, leading the Green Wave to a conference title game berth. Duke won nine games in its first season under head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag], and a bowl victory over Ole Miss would give the Blue Devils their second 10-win season ever.
Mensah won’t be eligible for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Rebels, but it seems he’ll spend plenty of time at Wallace Wade Stadium over the next two seasons.