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

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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.

Barkate fakes the stalk block here and works his way open up the numbers. Mensah finds him for an easy TD. Two WR's with elite FB IQ's (Malachi Toney being the other) on the field at the same time is a major problem for DC's in '26 pic.twitter.com/DiDppqe1Ia

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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.

The back shoulder throw is an excellent adjustment for a variety of reasons. The throw by on a CB puts him out of place, as the WR you know where it's going- he doesn't, most CB's can out run WR's but that's nullified on a BST, and your eyes/chest/hands are back to the ball! pic.twitter.com/kElJe9vhhS

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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.

I like that the route and the throw are adjusted multiple times. It means the QB/WR know how to work each other into a better answer. "Just a post" would have this covered but the slide from the TE, the break-offs on routes, and the ball placement make this a TD. pic.twitter.com/agLB6ZZsFM

— imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026

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.

In each of these threads there's always one 'eh' play to take a look at. No one is perfect. Here the ball just floats on Mensah and is a near INT. The Clemson DB drops it but when watching the Q's mechanics I can't find anything obviously wrong, just a bad ball off his hand. pic.twitter.com/JGcMdR6oFu

— imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026

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.

When Duke absolutely needed a TD throw Mensah delivered. Dropping a beautiful dime on a seam route for a TD. Clutch plays were made by the Q in this one where Duke beats Clemson in a come from behind effort. pic.twitter.com/S5DB5aaLhb

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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.

The Wrap

It’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.