When news broke on the final day of the transfer portal window that Darian Mensah was leaving Duke, there was endless speculation. After committing to Miami, Mensah admits the toughest part of the whole process wasn’t the decision. It was watching his mom, Naomi-Brebes Mensah, navigate the storm of social media noise surrounding him.

“It’s been pretty stressful, especially for my mom,” he said. “I tried to just stay off social media and let my team do all the work. I think they did a phenomenal job. My mom was more stressed than anything. So glad it’s all done with and glad it worked out.”

Mensah’s rise in college football has been incredible, but behind all the spotlight stands a mother who refused to allow her life’s hurdles to define her family. Darian was raised by his single mom, Naomi, and saw exactly what it takes to stay strong in the face of adversity.

Naomi is a longtime acupuncture and massage therapist who calls herself “a healer” and has become a pillar for Darian and his siblings after their father left. She overcame every obstacle in her path, including food stamps, a seized car, and bankruptcy, all while raising four children in a tiny three-bedroom apartment.

“My mom did everything in her power to keep us in the game—whether it was finding ways to afford gear, driving us to practices, or leaning on the community for support,” said Mensah.

Darian didn’t make flashy purchases after landing his $4 million-per-year NIL contract at Duke. Instead, he started a nonprofit to aid athletes from underprivileged backgrounds and collaborated with Single Moms Planet to assist families impacted by California wildfires.

And yet, the lessons she instilled in him carried him through. Now, Mensah has his eyes on winning a national championship at Miami and solidifying his place as an NFL pick.

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Darian Mensah explains the Miami move

Darian Mensah had an incredible season in 2025. He finished with 3,973 passing yards (second in FBS), 34 touchdowns, and a 66.8% completion rate while leading the Duke Blue Devils to their first ACC title since 1962. He had established himself as one of the best QBs in the country, but for him, the trophy and stats aren’t the end goal.

“Miami is going to take me to the place I want to go, which is ultimately the NFL,” he told

On3. “They’ve got NFL coaches. Coach [Shannon] Dawson, what he does with quarterbacks, his track record is pretty amazing, and it’s something I wanted to be a part of. The way coach [Mario] Cristobal protects the quarterback, he’s always going to have a solid O-line and then the weapons just all around the team and everyone that’s a part of Miami. Seemed like it was a great fit for me.

“I want to make the NFL. I want to be a first-round draft pick. And all signs point towards Miami. Miami’s done it. If you watch what they do, they win. It’s just something I wanted to be a part of. I’ve always bet on myself, and I always will. I’ve done it once, and I’ll do it again. I want to be one of the best.”

He is bringing his top WR, Cooper Barkate, to a solid offensive lineup that features returning star rusher Mark Fletcher and sophomore standout Malachi Toney.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in an offense that’s going to be as talented as this one,” Mensah said. “The opportunities are endless, the sky’s the limit. I really just can’t wait to get to work with these boys, because it’d be a waste not to do something special with all the talent that we have.

“I’m extremely confident. If you take a look at the pieces we have on both sides of the football, I think we’ve got a lot of talent. It’s going to be a super exciting team to watch, but we’re just trying to take it one step at a time.”

The journey to Miami wasn’t easy, though. With a temporary restraining order,

contractual hurdles from a two-year $8 million deal, and a settlement that apparently involved compensation, his departure from Duke unfolded like a high-stakes drama. Now at Miami, Mensah is ready to turn the Hurricanes’ next season into something bigger.