Breaking down Miami as part of his "Always College Football" contender series this week, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy described new Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah as "a blend" of Miami's last two transfer starters, Carson Beck and Cam Ward.
Greg McElroy weighs in on Miami for 2026 season
Beck, the veteran, brought structure and steadiness, leading the Hurricanes to the 2026 CFP national championship game. Ward was a dynamic, offensive force, who desperately needed a defense. McElroy's argument is that Mensah lives somewhere in the middle.
"Mensah is a blend of what Miami's had recently. He's more dynamic than Carson Beck, but more structured than Cam Ward. If Beck lives on one end of the spectrum and Ward on the other, Mensah sits somewhere in between — three-quarters of the way toward Beck, but with real mobility. He moves well in the pocket, makes pass rushers miss subtly, and in Shannon Dawson's Air Raid system, it's a clean marriage."Greg McElroy
The Hurricanes were one drive away from a national title last month before falling 27-21 to Indiana in the CFP championship game on Jan. 19.
Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns with six interceptions in 2025, and now arrives to Miami after a legal dispute had to be resolved before he could finalize the move.
The Hurricanes are still built in the vision of Mario Cristobal up front, but the offense has been shaped by coordinator Shannon Dawson. Dawson has connections to Air Raid pioneer Hal Mumme, while he has also evolved the scheme around Miami's roster and the strengths of his quarterback.
"He's a preseason Heisman sleeper, and honestly, he's the reason Miami fans aren't just hopeful — they're expectant."Greg McElroy
Of course, comparisons are easy to make now. The real work comes when Miami gets back on the field and Mensah has to build chemistry with his new receivers, and prove he can be the steady hand in big moments.