Darian Mensah is the truth.
The Duke faithful are about to find that out, and so is the rest of the ACC.
The transfer quarterback from Tulane is special. Some considered him the best QB available in the portal this offseason, and he chose the Blue Devils.
His future very well may include the NFL, but his present features a chance at a really special football season in Durham.
ESPN's Bill Connelly ranks Mensah as the 32nd-most important player in all of college football this season. Here's why:
"Duke was a mini-Michigan last season, playing good enough defense to win nine games despite no run game and a passing game Manny Diaz disliked so much that he immediately went out and grabbed Mensah with what was believed to be a big-money deal. At Tulane in 2024, Mensah was excellent for a redshirt freshman; if he becomes simply excellent, period, why shouldn't the Blue Devils be considered contenders? (Especially with a light conference schedule featuring only one projected top-40 ACC team?)"
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Mensah didn't play in his first season on campus with the Green Wave, but he shone brightly in 2024.
He threw for 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the AAC with a 65.9% completion percentage, 9.5 yards per attempt and a 166.7 rating.
Mensah can move a bit, too, running for 132 yards and a touchdown despite sacks counting as negative yardage in college football.
The right-handed rising star is listed at 6-foot-3 by Duke, and he's still got some lankiness to him.
Mensah is originally from California, which (tongue in cheek) is now ACC country.
He should put the whole country on notice soon enough with the way he's expected to play in a Blue Devils uniform.
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