Former Tulane QB Darian Mensah commits to Duke

Duke acted quickly to secure its new quarterback.

According to multiple reports, including Rivals’ Devils Illustrated, former Tulane QB Darian Mensah has committed to the Blue Devils. Mensah visited Duke on Tuesday and his impending arrival came as Duke’s 2024 starter Maalik Murphy entered the transfer portal on Monday night.

Mensah was one of the best quarterbacks available in the transfer portal to date. He won the starting job in the offseason for the Green Wave and was 189 of 287 passes for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Mensah was a two-star recruit in the 2023 class from California but got the starting job ahead of former Oregon QB Ty Thompson and Kai Horton. Horton had played 14 games for the Green Wave over the past three seasons.

Tulane reached the AAC title game, but lost a chance at the College Football Playoff due to a season-ending two-game losing streak. The Green Wave were 9-2 on an eight-game winning streak, but lost to Memphis on Thanksgiving and then lost to Army in the AAC title game, finishing 9-4. The Green Wave will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Murphy only spent one season at Duke after transferring from Texas. Murphy was Texas’ second-best QB in 2023 and transferred before the College Football Playoff. In his season as the Blue Devils’ starter, he completed 60% of his passes for 2,933 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Duke went 9-3 in 2024 and will play Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl. Henry Belin IV is expected to start this game for the Blue Devils as Grayson Loftis is also in the transfer portal.