Duke and quarterback Darian Mensah are now headed for a courtroom, with his football future temporarily on hold.
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According to ESPN, Mensah is permitted to remain in the transfer portal, but he cannot enroll at another school or play for a different program until a North Carolina judge rules on Duke's request for an injunction aimed at blocking his departure. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 2 in Durham County Superior Court before Judge Ed Wilson, though Mensah's attorney, Darren Heitner, has said he will attempt to move the date up.
Mensah informed Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz on Friday, the final day the portal was open, that he intended to transfer. He signed a multiyear NIL agreement with Duke in July 2024 that was believed to be worth roughly $4 million this year.
Duke filed suit Tuesday in Durham County Superior Court. A temporary restraining order was issued that prevents Mensah from enrolling elsewhere while the dispute plays out. The school said it has also filed for arbitration, noting that Mensah's NIL contract requires disputes to be resolved through that process.
"Mr. Mensah has an existing contract with Duke which the university intends to honor, and we expect he will do the same," Duke said in a statement released Wednesday.
A previous judge, Michael O'Foghludha, denied Duke's request to keep Mensah out of the portal and later recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
ESPN reports Mensah is believed to be interested in transferring to Miami, where he would potentially replace former starter Carson Beck.
