Ex-Duke QB Mensah: Miami will 'take me to the place I want to go'

New Miami quarterback Darian Mensah said his decision to enter the transfer portal was primarily motivated by his desire to become a better pro prospect rather than financial compensation.

"Miami is going to take me to the place I want to go, which is ultimately the NFL," Mensah told On3's Pete Nakos.

He added, "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."

The 21-year-old reached a settlement with Duke after school officials sued the former Blue Devils quarterback in an attempt to stop him from transferring. Mensah, who'd previously signed a multi-year NIL deal with Duke, entered the portal on Jan. 21 but wasn't permitted to transfer until a North Carolina judge ruled on the school's injunction request.

Mensah informed Duke that he wished to leave the program on Jan. 16, the final day of the transfer portal window, despite announcing in December that he would return for the 2026 season. Mensah's NIL agreement with the Blue Devils was reportedly worth up to $4 million in 2026, according to ESPN's Max Olson.

The Hurricanes quickly emerged as the front-runners to land Mensah. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound signal-caller led the ACC in passing yards (3,973) and passing touchdowns (34) in 2025. He also helped the Blue Devils capture their first conference title since 1962.

Mensah shared his appreciation for his lone season at Duke but shied away from making additional comments toward the fan base.

"To be honest, they're pretty hostile towards me," Mensah told Nakos. "I'm obviously grateful for all the support I've received during the season. Duke's a special place."

The Hurricanes have achieved back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins after bringing in quarterbacks Cam Ward and Carson Beck in consecutive offseasons. Ward's production made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 NFL Draft, while Beck guided Miami to an appearance in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.