The landscape of college football changed forever when name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals became legal, allowing players to earn compensation. As NIL continues to evolve, an unofficial record may have just been broken.
Earlier this month, the Duke Blue Devils reportedly shattered records by offering a historic NIL deal to transfer quarterback Darian Mensah.
How Much Is Darian Mensah’s NIL Deal Worth at Duke?
On Dec. 11, Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah committed to the Blue Devils, a program best known for its basketball success.
This week, CBS Sports reported that Mensah’s NIL deal with Duke is worth $8 million over two years, averaging $4 million per year—making him the highest-paid player in college football history, at least unofficially.
The offer highlights the NIL market’s remarkable growth, as Mensah, ranked No. 7 in the transfer portal by 247Sports, received offers for more than twice as much as Cam Ward and Riley Leonard, two of last season’s best transfer quarterbacks.
Is Darian Mensah the Highest-Paid Player in College Football?
There’s no official way to confirm Mensah’s contract value, but based on reported figures, his deal appears to set an unofficial record for college football compensation.
According to CBS Sports, Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer—one of the top passers in the portal—received a “similar” NIL deal when he transferred to Oklahoma.
In 2024, Mensah had a standout season at Tulane, passing for 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns, and completing 65.9% of his throws, leading the Green Wave to a 9-5 record.
This groundbreaking deal not only reflects Duke’s commitment to elevating its football program but also signals a growing trend of increasing NIL investments across college athletics.
Quarterbacks capitalizing on strong seasons to secure major NIL deals is nothing new. However, the sheer size of Mensah’s agreement is shocking—especially considering Ward and Leonard, two of the most sought-after quarterbacks last year, earned less than half of Mensah’s reported total despite having more extensive production.
MORE: Top 10 NIL Deals from 2024
With NIL figures continuing to rise, Mensah’s deal may just be the beginning of a new era in college football compensation.
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