
Millwall beat QPR to climb back into second in Championship
Millwall's 2-0 win over QPR puts them back in second place in the Championship!
Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah led his team to a thrilling 46-45 victory over Clemson, throwing four touchdown passes and a game-winning 2-point conversion. Mensah averaged 8.8 yards per pass attempt and connected with transfer WR Cooper Barkate for 127 yards.
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 Images
Today weâre 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 âCanes new starting QB found transfer WR CooperBarkatesix 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.
The spring game is today and we're going to take a look at Darian Mensah vs Clemson from 2025 for @TheStateOfTheU another beautiful dig to Cooper Barkate who will also be a 'Cane this year pic.twitter.com/ZNEEpqcYsU
â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ 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 thereâs 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 â25.
Switch route for a TD after motion. Make the DB's talk pre-snap, possibly change coverage responsibilities, and then do it again post-snap as well. Some of those deep balls Mensah struggled with at Tulane have been figured out by his RS-Soph year
Darian Mensah threw four touchdown passes, averaged 8.8 yards per pass attempt, and had zero turnovers.
Duke defeated Clemson 46-45 with a comeback win, highlighted by Mensah's game-winning 2-point conversion.
Darian Mensah connected with transfer WR Cooper Barkate for one touchdown and 127 yards.
Mensah's performance was crucial, as he led the team to victory with key touchdown passes and a decisive 2-point conversion.

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â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ I like this concept. Duke stacks the WRâs to the field, then moves one, then runs switch which has the WRâs flip landmarks (seam, numbers). The DBâs have to switch****pre-snap and post-snap leading to an easy TD. Thatâs worth a conversation with OC Shannon****Dawson about moving someone like Toney around and keeping DBâs 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
â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ Barkate is a high football IQ player and him joining Toney in that regard is quite the problem for DCâs 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
â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ Mensah really got his back shoulder game going as the year moved on at Duke. Back shoulder throws are necessary because CBâs are typically faster than WRâs, the WR knows the ball is coming short and can âthrow byâ the CB making himself more open, he also doesnât have to guess like the CB- he knows where itâs 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
â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ Route adjustments and throwing guys open. This type of variability and thinking on the fly wasnât in Beckâs arsenal as much as Cam Wardâs and Mensahâs. 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
â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ Every thread of All-22 Review has to have one âwoofâ play or it wouldnât be honest. Iâm not sure what goes wrong here for Mensah but the ball sails on him and itâs a near INT. The Clemson DB drops a wide open INT and potentially pick 6. Iâm assuming itâs how the ball comes out of the Qâs hand but thatâs 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
â imfb_blog (@IMFB_Blog) April 18, 2026
Aboveâ 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.
Itâs 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 canât afford to not make the ACC Championship Game again. While they proved the point in â25, I canât see the committee doing it again in â26 with the new Notre Dame rule taking up more space in the bracket.
Having Mensah is a huge bonus over playing the younger QBâs on the roster and bringing in Barkate will prove to really pay off for the offense this season.