ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, speaking on ACC Network on January 29, said Mensah could become the Heisman Trophy favorite if everything goes as planned, citing his earlier development at Tulane and describing his movement, poise, and confidence in the pocket as distinguishing traits.
FanDuel’s odds reflect the intrigue surrounding Mensah, listing him at +1500 as a top-6 Heisman contender. Arch Manning and CJ Carr lead the board at +750, with Josh Hoover at +1000, and Mensah joined by players such as Gunner Stockton, Sam Leavitt, and Dante Moore in the next tier.
Statistically, Mensah’s case rests on production. At Duke, he threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading the ACC in both categories and ranking among the national leaders in passing yards and TDs. Those numbers followed a strong redshirt sophomore year at Tulane (3,723 yards, 22 TDs, 6 INT).
The path to Miami included a two-year Duke contract and a transfer-portal period that triggered a lawsuit, a chapter the settlement has now closed. Miami’s offense is positioned to support him, with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson calling plays to maximize Mensah’s skill set.
Cristobal has also reshaped the supporting cast to complement Mensah. Miami returns its entire running-back rotation led by Mark Fletcher Jr., adds 6’1, 195-pound Duke wide receiver Cooper Barkate, and benefits from a strengthened line with the addition of 5-star tackle Jackson Cantwell. Barkate, who caught 72 passes for 1,106 yards and seven TDs for Duke in 2025, joined a WR corps that already includes Malachi Toney and Josh Moore, further boosting Miami’s immediate targets for Mensah.
