Former Tulane QB Darian Mensah commits to Duke

Duke moved 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 comes as Duke’s 2024 starter, Maalik Murphy, entered the transfer portal on Monday evening.

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

Tulane went to the AAC title game but lost a shot at the College Football Playoff thanks to a two-game losing streak at the end of the season. The Green Wave were 9-2 after an eight-game win streak, but lost on Thanksgiving to Memphis and then were blown out by Army in the AAC title game to finish 9-4. The Green Wave are set to play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Murphy spent just one season at Duke after transferring from Texas. Murphy was Texas’ No. 2 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 TDs.

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