Duke Signs Tulane QB Darian Mensah to $8M NIL Deal

Darian Mensah, former Tulane quarterback, made headlines by transferring to Duke University on a groundbreaking two-year, $8 million NIL deal, one of the largest contracts in college football history. Mensah, who threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns at Tulane, cited a combination of financial security for his family and the opportunity to play in the competitive ACC as primary reasons for his move, though he downplayed the NIL money as the main factor. Despite offers from multiple SEC schools, Mensah felt Duke's coaching staff and vision were a better fit for his NFL aspirations. His transfer comes after Duke lost quarterback Maalik Murphy to Oregon State, positioning Mensah as the new marquee signal caller for the Blue Devils. Mensah acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving Tulane, which he called home, and expressed gratitude for his former teammates and support system. Duke's program, under coach Manny Diaz, is seen as a rising contender in the ACC with Mensah expected to play a pivotal role in their quest for an ACC Championship.