Duke University and former quarterback Darian Mensah have reached a settlement after the school sued Mensah on Jan. 20 four days after he announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal.
According The Fayetteville Observer, Duke alleged Mensah had breach his multi-year contract signed in July 2025, which was set to run through Dec. 2026. Mensah was reportedly locked in at $4 million per year for. total of $8 million.
The Observer also reports that as part of the contract Mensah agreed that he wouldn't enroll or play football at another institution for the term of his contract. He also agreed not to license his NIL rights to another institution while the contract remains in effect.
A judge had granted Duke a temporary restraining order that barred Mensah from enrolling, playing football or licensing his NIL at another institution. Mensah was still allowed to enter the transfer portal, which Duke officially entered him into late before the midnight deadline on Jan. 21.
Mensah's agency, Young Money APAA Sports, announced the news on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday morning.
"We are pleased to announce that Darian Mensah, supported by our team of legal counsel and Young Money APAA Sports, has reached a settlement agreement with Duke University," the statement read. "Darian extends his sincere gratitude to Duke University for engaging in good-faith discussions and reaching this resolution. He wises the Blue Devils, Coach Diaz, the staff, and the entire fan base continued success for the seasons ahead."
Terms of the settlement were not released.
Duke also released a statement shortly after the news dropped.
"We are committed to fulfilling all promises and obligations Duke makes to our student-athletes when we enter into contractual agreements with them, and we expect the same in return," it read. "Enforcing those agreements is a necessary element of ensuring predictability and structure for athletic programs. It is nonetheless a difficult choice to pursue legal action against a student and teammate; for this reason we sought to resolve the matter fairly and quickly."
Mensah has not yet announced where he will enroll.
