Mario Cristobal compares Miami's new transfer QB Darian Mensah to Cam Ward

The Miami Hurricanes wanted to bring quarterback Darian Mensah into the fold. He wanted to be a Hurricane so much that he sued his former program, the Duke Blue Devils, for the opportunity to transfer to Miami.

The legal issues are now behind him, and he's officially in Coral Gables and expected to be the starter in 2026 as the Hurricanes look to replace Carson Beck.

This marks a nice run of quarterbacks for head coach Mario Cristobal, who has played the transfer portal like a fiddle.

He's brought in Cam Ward, Beck and now Mensah in back-to-back-to-back offseasons.

Ward was a Heisman Trophy finalist before going No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans. They're not the same player, but Cristobal recently revealed to On3's J.D. Pickell that he does see some similarities between Mensah and Ward.

“I think everybody’s so different, but you do try and pick some similarities to make things as analogous as you can, or bring it to life in conversation,” Cristobal said. “I think you see some of (Ward’s) game in him. But, he’s his own unique player also. Man, he’s so accurate. So mobile. On the run, on script, off script, down the field, intermediate, short, quick-game, screen-game, making things happen with his feet. And, he has an incredible personality. That part really hit fast."

Miami likes what it has in QB Darian Mensah 

Mensah is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback from San Louis Obispo, California, and he's the perfect encapsulation of the modern-day college football quarterback.

What that means is that he's a transfer portal star.

He played at Tulane as a freshman, racking up 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns compared to six interceptions. He then transferred to Duke and put up 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns compared to six interceptions in 2025.

Mensah was a massive part of Duke's success last season, and now Cristobal and the Hurricanes are hoping he can continue his ways in South Beach.

"Man, it’s exciting because he brings a lot to the table. We really think the sky’s the limit for Darian Mensah," Cristobal said.