Darian Mensah shocked much of the college football world when he entered the transfer portal hours before it closed on Friday, Jan. 16, leaving behind Duke and a lucrative name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with the school after just one season.
The Blue Devils aren’t letting him exit without a fight.
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Duke filed a lawsuit against Mensah on Tuesday, Jan. 20, claiming he violated a multi-year NIL contract that runs through Dec. 31, 2026.
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The university is seeking an injunction and restraining order in Durham County (North Carolina) Superior Court that would effectively prohibit Mensah from leaving the program. Reigning national runner-up Miami, which is looking to replace outgoing quarterback Carson Beck, is widely presumed to be Mensah’s preferred destination.
A redshirt sophomore, Mensah transferred to the Blue Devils from Tulane after the 2024 season, signing a two-year contract worth a reported $8 million. In its lawsuit, Duke said the deal grants the school exclusive rights to Mensah’s name, image and likeness “with respect to higher education and football” and that the university has “met all of its obligations under that contract.”
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Mensah had announced on Dec. 19 that he was returning to the Blue Devils rather than entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Contracts mean something,” the introduction of the lawsuit states. “Mensah’s actions violate numerous provisions of his contract with Duke University and disregard his promises and obligations to the University. And, as Mensah agreed when he signed his contract, such breaches cause Duke irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law and, in the event of any such breach, Duke is entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief.”
In his first and potentially only season at Duke, Mensah threw for 3,973 yards — the second-highest mark among FBS quarterbacks — 34 touchdowns and six interceptions while helping lead the Blue Devils to their first-ever ACC championship.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duke suing QB Darian Mensah, trying to block him from transferring
