Duke was the subject of the most dramatic transfer portal move of the offseason.
Quarterback Darian Mensah, who joined the team on a two-year deal ahead of the 2025 season, opted to enter the transfer portal on the final day of the window after previously affirming his commitment to the Blue Devils. He ultimately signed a lucrative deal to transfer to Miami.
Mensah was one of the ACC’s best signal-callers last season, and he was a key part of Duke’s plans in 2026. Coach Manny Diaz said “everyone was surprised” when Mensah entered the portal.
“It was turbulent,” Diaz said at ACC media days, per ESPN. “All of them got called (by other teams) and the whole thing could’ve gone kaput. The leadership of our guys to hold tight and stay was massive. I think they were shaken, but they believe now.”
Running back Nate Sheppard, who did return to Durham after rushing for 1,132 yards last year, said the team initially felt betrayed but chose to move on quickly.
“It’s like wow, that they would come and do something like that,” Sheppard said. “But after it was confirmed that he was leaving, it was kind of like, you know, we’ll discuss it for a minute, and then it’s over with. There’s turnover every year in college football, so it is what it is.”
Speaking for the Hurricanes at ACC media days, Mensah said his two-year, $8 million contract at Duke caused friction in the locker room. However, that’s an assertion that Blue Devils tight end Jeremiah Hasley flatly denied on Friday.
“No, Darian’s contract was no problem in the locker room,” Hasley said. “He was a great quarterback for us. He earned everything he got. There was never a problem.”
Who replaced Darian Mensah as Duke’s QB?
With Mensah gone, Duke turned to a transfer of their own in Walker Eget, who spent the last five seasons at San Jose State. Eget started 18 games for the Spartans over the last two seasons, and in 2025, he threw for 3,047 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Duke players describe surprise when Darian Mensah transferred to Miami
