Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has secured a spot at Duke, while players such as Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin’s Braedyn Locke, and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are also considering transfers through the portal.
Mensah, who is a redshirt freshman and has three years of eligibility left, confirmed his transfer to Duke on Wednesday. He was seen at the Blue Devils’ men’s basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. Currently, Duke’s football team (9-3) is set to compete against Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, although they will be without starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, both of whom have also entered the transfer portal.
Regarded among the top talents in the transfer portal, Mensah had an impressive season, amassing 2,723 passing yards and throwing 22 touchdown passes with a completion rate of 65.9%. He played a pivotal role in leading the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and to the American Athletic Conference championship game, which ended in a 35-14 defeat to Army. Meanwhile, Tulane prepares to face off against Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl this Sunday.
Both Mendoza and Locke have made announcements via social media that they have entered the transfer portal.
Van Buren, who began eight games for the Bulldogs, concluded his freshman year with 1,886 passing yards, achieving a 55% completion rate, and accounting for 16 total touchdowns against seven interceptions. He stepped into the starting role after Blake Shapen sustained a season-ending shoulder injury during a 45-28 loss to Florida on September 21. Shapen has indicated his intention to return for the next season.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Van Buren hails from St. Frances Academy in Maryland and showcased his skills with two performances exceeding 300 yards, including a game where he recorded 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a challenging 41-31 loss to Georgia.
On the other hand, Mendoza had an impressive year, throwing for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a completion percentage of 68.7%. He expressed on social media, “For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached.”
Locke ended the season with 1,936 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while at Wisconsin. He indicated that he will have two full years of eligibility remaining at his prospective new school.
