All-22 Review: Darian Mensah vs. Clemson (2025)

CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 01: Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) during a college football game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Clemson Tigers on November 1, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesToday we’re taking a look at new Miami QB Darian Mensah and his old team, the Duke Blue Devils, against the Clemson Tigers. Duke traveled to Clemson and knocked off the Tigers 46-45 in a comeback win. Mensah threw the game winning 2-point conversion on a slide route and the Blue Devils left Death Valley on top.Against the Tigers, Mensah averaged 8.8 yards per pass attempt with four TD passes and zero turnovers. The ‘Canes new starting QB found transfer WR Cooper Barkate six times for 127 yards (21.2 yards per catch) and one TD. Mensah actually hurt his own numbers by catching a batted ball for an 11-yard loss.Above– Barkate coming with Mensah was a beautiful move by Mario Cristobal and company. Get Mensah as comfortable in the offense as possibly as quickly as possible. Miami starts off with four cupcakes but there’s no reason to stumble around and lose confidence before a tough game against Clemson. Here, Barkate runs a tight dig route which was a Carson Beck and Mensah favorite in ‘25.Above– I like this concept. Duke stacks the WR’s to the field, then moves one, then runs switch which has the WR’s flip landmarks (seam, numbers). The DB’s have to switch pre-snap and post-snap leading to an easy TD. That’s worth a conversation with OC Shannon Dawson about moving someone like Toney around and keeping DB’s talking and thinking.Above– Barkate is a high football IQ player and him joining Toney in that regard is quite the problem for DC’s in 2026. Barkate fakes a stalk block before ripping open and running a fade. This is a WIDE OPEN easy TD for Mensah and the kind of communicating and adjusting necessary to win the natty.Above– Mensah really got his back shoulder game going as the year moved on at Duke. Back shoulder throws are necessary because CB’s are typically faster than WR’s, the WR knows the ball is coming short and can ‘throw by’ the CB making himself more open, he also doesn’t have to guess like the CB- he knows where it’s going. Most importantly his hands, eyes and chest are back to the ball making it easier to catch the football.Above– Route adjustments and throwing guys open. This type of variability and thinking on the fly wasn’t in Beck’s arsenal as much as Cam Ward’s and Mensah’s. If you just run a post this is covered, but the route being adjusted and throwing him more flat than deep works for a touchdown.Above– Every thread of All-22 Review has to have one “woof” play or it wouldn’t be honest. I’m not sure what goes wrong here for Mensah but the ball sails on him and it’s a near INT. The Clemson DB drops a wide open INT and potentially pick 6. I’m assuming it’s how the ball comes out of the Q’s hand but that’s hard to see on film.Above– And finally a beautiful TD up the seam to get Duke back into the ball game. Mensah drops a complete DIME on this throw and really fixes his deep ball game from Tulane to mid-season at Duke.AdvertisementThe WrapIt’s going to be a big year for the Hurricanes if they can keep their heads on and not lose to a chump team like they have in the past. The ACC is really down and Miami can’t afford to not make the ACC Championship Game again. While they proved the point in ‘25, I can’t see the committee doing it again in ‘26 with the new Notre Dame rule taking up more space in the bracket.Having Mensah is a huge bonus over playing the younger QB’s on the roster and bringing in Barkate will prove to really pay off for the offense this season.