NIL has modified the sport in faculty sports activities, and that was on show this week as quarterback Darian Mensah grew to become the highest-paid faculty soccer participant after transferring to Duke earlier this month.
It’s believed the Tulane redshirt freshman is being paid $8 million over two years to play for the Blue Devils, in response to CBS Sports activities, and the $4 million annual common is what provides him the excellence of being the highest-paid participant in faculty soccer, unofficially.
The deal signifies the altering dynamics in collegiate sports activities, significantly soccer, as a result of NIL cash.
Only in the near past, Michigan was in a position to flip LSU commit Bryce Underwood, because of a $10 million NIL provide that may pay him over his 4 years at Michigan.
Properly-known sports activities regulation legal professional Darren Heitner assisted with the Mensah deal, calling it “groundbreaking” in a put up on X Monday.
Noah Reisenfeld and Adie von Gontard of Younger Cash APAA Sports activities represented Mensah on the deal.
Mensah is coming off a formidable season at Tulane, the place he ascended from the scout group quarterback in his first yr to the starter on a group that reached the American Athletic Convention Championship Sport in 2024.
Mensah threw for two,273 yards and 22 touchdowns together with simply six interceptions in his first and solely season as Tulane’s beginning quarterback.
He led the American Athletic Convention in completion proportion and passer effectivity ranking throughout the 2024 season.
“He’s a future NFL quarterback,” one SEC scout advised The Athletic earlier this month after information of his switch first broke.
Duke is coming off a 9-3 marketing campaign, probably the greatest years in program historical past beneath the tutelage of first-year head coach Manny Diaz.
The addition of Mensah comes after this system moved on from quarterback Maalik Murphy, who had a robust season himself for the Blue Devils.
Murphy, who tossed 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024, is transferring to Oregon State.
