Duke’s football program has come a long way under head coach Manny Diaz. They didn’t even hesitate to offer quarterback Darian Mensah an $8 million NIL deal. However, not long ago, the head coach wasn’t so sure about making such a huge investment in the roster.
If we look back, Diaz was let go as head coach and took a job as defensive coordinator for Penn State. He admitted that finding another head coaching job was really difficult for him after some public missteps. Still, as the leader of the Blue Devils, he is determined to prove his critics wrong; he wants to show everyone that he can lead this team to success.
Despite his confidence, some people question Diaz’s bold choice to recruit the former Tulane standout. After all, his $8 million NIL deal is one of the most expensive in college football history. Yet, Diaz believes this move can take the Blue Devils to the next level.
Manny Diaz Confronts Critics Over His $8M Gamble on New QB Addition
The Blue Devils made headlines when Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah committed to Duke last year’s December. According to CBS Sports, Mensah’s NIL deal is worth a staggering $8 million over two years, averaging $4 million per season. That would make him one of the highest-paid players in college football history, even though his current on3 NIL valuation is just $2.8 million.
Former Tulane QB Darian Mensah received a 2 year, $8 million NIL deal from Duke 🤯
Wow. pic.twitter.com/TaHd0J2z6X
— Elite College Football (@officialECFIG) December 23, 2024
Naturally, the numbers raised eyebrows. Just a day or two later, head coach Manny Diaz had no choice but to speak up. With fans and media demanding answers, the pressure was on to explain if Mensah was really worth that much, especially since he’s stepping in to fill the void left by Maalik Murphy, who now quarterbacks Oregon State.
KEEP READING: Duke QB Darian Mensah’s $8M Transfer NIL Deal Set Standard Long Before Nico Iamaleava’s Tennessee Situation
“We certainly felt he was the best in the portal at that time,” Diaz told ESPN’s Rece Davis. He explained that Mensah wasn’t just drawn to Duke for football. The academic reputation of the university and the chance to earn a valuable degree also played a major role. Still, what caught Mensah’s eye the most was Duke’s offensive style.
“We weren’t the fully operational Death Star yet,” Diaz joked, “but we had shown enough of our identity for him to say, ‘That’s where I want to be.’”
Mensah’s performance at Tulane proves he’s more than just hype. In 2024, he led the Green Wave to the AAC Championship Game as a redshirt freshman. Tulane finished the season 9-4, including a strong 7-1 record in conference play.
Throughout the season, Mensah showed off his skills both as a passer and a runner. In a standout game against Navy, he completed 10 of 14 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 57 yards and added another score on the ground. Performances like that helped build the case for his record-breaking NIL deal.
“I thought the coaches at Tulane did a phenomenal job developing him,” Diaz added. “Getting him here in the spring, he’s been everything we hoped for—and more. Not just on the field, but with how he connects with the team in the locker room.”
Mensah arrives at Duke with nearly 2,723 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and just six interceptions under his belt. Those numbers speak for themselves. Still, he remains one of the most expensive quarterbacks in college football. So, until the season kicks off and he proves his value on the field, the debate around his $8 million deal will continue.
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