Duke QB Darian Mensah files motion asking judge to reconsider block on enrolling elsewhere

Key Highlights

• There was no change to the case’s hearing schedule listed on the court’s online portal as of midday Friday. The school filed its lawsuit Monday in Durham County Superior Court, pointing to terms in the two-season contract Mensah signed with Duke for payments tied to his name, image and likeness (NIL) rights in college football through 2026.
• Duke’s complaint came three days after Mensah reversed his previously announced plan to return to the Blue Devils after leading them to the Atlantic Coast Conference title. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpecifically, Duke’s lawsuit argued that the contract requires parties to go through arbitration before any dispute can be resolved.
• The school has issued a statement saying it “intends to honor” its contract with Mensah “and we expect he will do the same.”A judge granted Duke’s request for the TRO, first verbally in a Tuesday hearing and then with a written order a day later, in an effort to “preserve the status quo” until the next hearing.
• That meant Mensah could enter his name into the transfer portal, but couldn’t take additional steps such as enrolling elsewhere and reaching a deal to play football. Mensah’s filing asks the judge for reconsideration based on “new evidence,” then argues that “neither Mensah nor counsel was aware of any enrollment deadlines” for schools interested in adding Mensah at the time of the Tuesday hearing.
• It argues that Mensah would suffer “manifest injustice” if the deadline passes while the parties stay with the Feb.