DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The power of Duke basketball can not be understated. It turns out Jon Scheyer’s crew, with the help of the Cameron Crazies, made quite an impression on quarterback Darian Mensah when he was on his official visit to Duke.
“I’d just say being in Cameron, it lives up to the hype,” said Mensah. “Cooper Flagg, he’s a stud, and as soon as I came on my visit I knew this was home. And being in there, it’s electric.”
And just like that, Duke football had its quarterback — and not just any quarterback. Mensah was the top rated quarterback in the portal and third-ranked transfer overall. Duke went toe-to-toe with some of college football’s best programs and came out on top.
“He saw us as a premiere destination in a place where a quarterback can really get developed and excel at a high level. That’s really important,” said Duke head coach Manny Diaz. “I think there’s a lot of wind in the Duke sails. The support we’re getting from our administration and from our donors, the Iron Dukes and Starting 11 — Duke wants to compete at the highest level.”
Mensah burst onto the scene in his first year as Tulane’s starting quarterback last season, passing for 27-hundred yards and 22 touchdowns. And while those numbers may not be eye-popping, it was Mensah’s poise and potential that had scouts drooling.
“I watch a lot of CJ Stroud so [I] maybe model my game after him, but I just take what the defense gives me and make plays when presented,” said Mensah.
That’s what Duke is counting on and it’s why the Devils committed $8 million dollars over two years to sign Mensah. Now it’s time to get down to business as the Devils face a tough early slate.
“They can go out there and throw and catch all summer, so the timing of our passing offense, especially with out September schedule has got to be in midseason form when we start off,” said Diaz. “I think it’s going to be one of key stories of our summer.”
As is Mensah’s development. The young quarterback has all the tools for success, especially if he can clean up his footwork.
“I think that’s the biggest emphasis for me right now, I think it will help my deep ball, a lot so footwork is the main emphasis for my improvement,” said Mensah.