Miami QB Darian Mensah Shines in Debut Amid Rising Heisman Hopes
Recently, several top college football quarterbacks began their seasons, including Texas’s Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr. While these players have potential to be notable this season, sports analyst Colin Cowherd has singled out a different standout: Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah.
On his show, “The Colin Cowherd Podcast,” Cowherd expressed high praise for Mensah. “I can’t believe there’s a better quarterback than Darian Mensah,” he stated, advocating Mensah’s skills over others such as CJ Carr, Arch Manning, and Dante Moore. Cowherd appreciates Mensah’s journey from playing at less-publicized high school and college teams like Tulane and Duke, to now lead at Miami.
In his first game against Stanford, Mensah excelled by completing 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-6 victory. His main target was wide receiver Malachi Toney, who gained 234 yards and three touchdowns. Mensah’s performance was a stellar debut, showcasing his confidence and adaptability. The highlight of his debut, which showed zero interceptions, quickly spread on X.
Despite the dominant performance, some fans argue that Miami’s opponent, Stanford, wasn’t a true challenge. The strength of future opponents will be crucial to determining whether Mensah can maintain his impressive form. He faces heightened competition ahead, providing an opportunity to either expose weaknesses or cement Cowherd’s assessment of his talent.
Currently, various sportsbooks set Mensah as a leader in the Heisman Trophy odds, though the season is still in its early stages. The other quarterbacks mentioned by Cowherd may face tougher opposition, allowing potential for them to stand out as the season progresses.
Miami’s Head Coach Mario Cristobal hopes Mensah will continue his strong play as Miami aims to re-enter the College Football Playoff and vie for a National Championship. The Hurricanes will play Florida A&M on Thursday, Sept. 10, and then face a challenging match against the No. 4 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Nov. 7.