Darian Mensah needed just one practice with Miami to see what the hype was all about

Darian Mensah had to experience how the Miami Hurricanes practiced to truly know if it was as tough as it looked and he was not disappointed.

Mensah, who will be leading the Hurricanes' offense this season, said that the physical style of play was something that stood out to him when he was looking at the team on film. Then he had his first practice with Miami and saw everything he imagined up close.

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"Something that popped up on tape was just how physical this group was, and it definitely is apparent in the way we practice each and every day. You can see the physicality that we play with," Mensah said during Miami's media day.

Darian Mensah got a first-hand look at how committed Miami was to the work

Mario Cristobal talks about the work and the grind in nearly every interview or media session. It's not simply a slogan, but something he lived for as a player and understands that it separates the winners from the champions.

Miami could probably win a handful of games on talent alone. The Hurricanes are that deep at most positions across the board. But Mensah isn't here just to win by talent alone. He came to Miami to win championships and in a 12-team tournament where every team is great, the last one standing is usually the one that can handle the tough times. 

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The practices that Cristobal runs at Miami have quickly become the stuff of legends. There isn't a lot of wasted motion and the Hurricanes are still one of the teams that will practice will real contact during the game week. 

Many programs have backed away from that kind of physical practice during a game week because they don't want to risk injuries, but the way Cristobal has always seen it is that by not practicing with some live rounds, the injuries come more frequently. With the success Miami has had, no one is going to argue with the coach's philosophy. That includes Mensah.

"He's a fierce competitor, wants to win and knows how to lead," Mensah said. "He is one of the better motivators that I've ever seen. I can't wait to play my butt off for him."

Mensah knows what the assignment is, and it's good to see that he immediately was able to immerse himself in Miami's culture. He transferred to the Hurricanes because he wanted to win at the highest level. But he knows that it takes a special group that can perform at a championship level every week to make that happen. There's no question that he's in the right place at the right time. 

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