Darian Mensah's game has been well known to serious college football fans since his redshirt freshman season at Tulane in 2024. The formerly overlooked prospect turned heads when he beat out former four-star prospect Ty Thompson, and he proceeded to dazzle while throwing for nearly 3,000 yards with the Green Wave. Mensah increased his national profile even further at Duke last season while passing for nearly 4,000 yards and guiding the Blue Devils to an ACC title.
But for anyone who remains uninitiated or skeptical, buckle up. The pairing of Mensah's skill with Miami's talent is already sending the star's stock soaring. After throwing for a career-high 401 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in the Hurricanes' 45-6 rout of Stanford in Week 1, Mensah has risen to the top of the Heisman Trophy odds sheet (+600 at DraftKings).
Just a couple spots behind him is 'Canes receiver Malachi Toney, who set a school record with 234 receiving yards against the Cardinal. The two are set to give the ACC fits in the months ahead. Mensah's top target from Duke, Cooper Barkate, also transferred in to give the star QB an elite 1-2 tandem (Toney and Barkate finished first and second in the ACC in receiving yards last season).
Miami's defense may not be as disruptive as it was last season -- the jury is out -- and the Hurricanes were just OK in the run game against Stanford. But they have upgraded at quarterback. Coming out of Week 1, Mensah is topping the charts within the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings.
Here is the full 1-50 breakdown of the QBPR entering Week 2. Mensah established a new career high in his first game with Miami by passing for 401 yards and five touchdowns in an authoritative 45-6 win at Stanford. The Duke transfer's easy chemistry with sophomore stud Malachi Toney was a sight to behold as Toney established a new Miami record with 234 receiving yards.
Last week: 4 Leavitt devastated Clemson with his legs, totaling 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns. For good measure, he totaled 230 yards passing and another score as LSU raced to a convincing 51-10 win in coach Lane Kiffin's debut. An early interception was the receiver's fault.
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