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Mensah Added to Manning Award Watch List
10/23/2025 11:05:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke redshirt sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah was one of 22 additions to the Midseason Manning Award Watch List, presented by the AllState Sugar Bowl.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting. After announcing 27 quarterbacks to its preseason watch list, the Manning Award opted to increase its spotlighted players based on the many strong performances during the first half of the year.Â
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"We wanted to be sure and recognize those outstanding quarterbacks who had great first halves of the season," said Archie Manning. "At the same time, there is a lot of football left to be played and a long list of impact games, including the biggest ones of the year – the conference championships, the bowl games, and the College Football Playoff. Rest assured, every quarterback in the country remains in full consideration for the Manning Award."
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In his first season at Duke, Mensah leads the ACC in passing yards (2,211), passing yards per game (315.9), passing touchdowns (17), pass efficiency (165.8) and pass completions per game (25.00). He ranks within the top 10 nationally in passing yards (2nd), passing yards per game (2nd), pass completions per game (6th) and passing touchdowns (9th). Mensah owns the second most passing yards in Duke history through seven games of a season, trailing only Anthony Dilweg's 2,402 in 1988, and the most passing touchdowns. Â
Mensah, a product of San Luis Obispo, Calif., has thrown for two touchdowns and at least 250 yards in each of his seven games at Duke. He is the third ACC quarterback to begin his career with a league school to such a stretch since 2010, joining Drake Maye (North Carolina/10 games) and Cam Ward (Miami/seven games).
Mensah is guiding Duke to 36.5 points per ACC contest to rank 11th nationally, and third among Power Four teams, in points per league game. The Blue Devils own 146 total points in their first four ACC games, tied with the 1994 squad for the most in four conference games since the league formed in 1953.
Finalists for the honor will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Thursday, December 4 and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting. After announcing 27 quarterbacks to its preseason watch list, the Manning Award opted to increase its spotlighted players based on the many strong performances during the first half of the year.Â
Â
"We wanted to be sure and recognize those outstanding quarterbacks who had great first halves of the season," said Archie Manning. "At the same time, there is a lot of football left to be played and a long list of impact games, including the biggest ones of the year – the conference championships, the bowl games, and the College Football Playoff. Rest assured, every quarterback in the country remains in full consideration for the Manning Award."
Â
In his first season at Duke, Mensah leads the ACC in passing yards (2,211), passing yards per game (315.9), passing touchdowns (17), pass efficiency (165.8) and pass completions per game (25.00). He ranks within the top 10 nationally in passing yards (2nd), passing yards per game (2nd), pass completions per game (6th) and passing touchdowns (9th). Mensah owns the second most passing yards in Duke history through seven games of a season, trailing only Anthony Dilweg's 2,402 in 1988, and the most passing touchdowns. Â
Mensah, a product of San Luis Obispo, Calif., has thrown for two touchdowns and at least 250 yards in each of his seven games at Duke. He is the third ACC quarterback to begin his career with a league school to such a stretch since 2010, joining Drake Maye (North Carolina/10 games) and Cam Ward (Miami/seven games).
Mensah is guiding Duke to 36.5 points per ACC contest to rank 11th nationally, and third among Power Four teams, in points per league game. The Blue Devils own 146 total points in their first four ACC games, tied with the 1994 squad for the most in four conference games since the league formed in 1953.
Finalists for the honor will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Thursday, December 4 and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
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