Carson Beck was supposed to be the name on everyone’s lips this offseason. The former Georgia QB1, fresh off a playoff run and a season where he showcased NFL-caliber arm talent in the first few weeks, made waves by transferring to Miami Hurricanes. One could call it a “business decision.” With a hefty payday that reportedly got around $4 million, which made him the highest-paid CFB player earning more than NFL QBs like Bo Nix. For a moment, it seemed like Beck had locked down the crown as the face of the NIL era. But little did we know there was this Tulane underdog who slipped under the radar. If Beck thought he’d have it easy in ACC than in SEC then, he was wrong.
One would think the dominoes fell in line almost perfectly, as of course, Beck’s girlfriend, Hanna Cavinder, is currently enrolled at Canes as a member of the women’s basketball team. Yet, replacing Cam Ward for Beck would be tough any day for Mario Cristobal, but here we are. And now the richest CFB QB probably isn’t even the richest. Enter Darian Mensah. The Tulane standout wasn’t exactly a household name when the 2023 season began, but by the time it ended, he had turned enough, as now revealed by On3’s Pete Nakos.
After just one season with the Green Wave, the redshirt freshman entered the transfer portal for reportedly one of the highest NIL deals in the nation. While all eyes were on the usual Power Five arms, Mensah quietly became the most sought-after free agent, ultimately landing at Duke Blue Devils. For what Nakos with On3 Sports spoke with anonymous Power Four personnel staffers and NIL collective insiders, who believed to be one of the largest NIL deals of the cycle. What made this even more shocking was that Mensah’s rise wasn’t met with the same fanfare as Beck’s.
One ACC personnel staffer even went as far as to say that Mensah’s deal outpaced Beck’s, suggesting he received somewhere north of $4 million. “I’ve heard he got $4 million,” the staffer revealed. Meanwhile, another ACC collective member noted that whatever Mensah received, it was “very significantly, like $3.5M. What was different in this year’s portal was multiple OT prospects went for 1.5M. You’re the value on specialists go up pretty quickly.” Even a Big 12 personnel staffer, who had pegged Mensah’s deal closer to $3 million, acknowledged that his market value had skyrocketed beyond what most had anticipated.
Mensah was also named by the Big 12 personnel staffer, who thought he received $3 million, alongside Beck with a reported $3.5 million deal. And then there’s the Beck number — $6 million, a figure thrown around by some SEC insiders but met with skepticism in other circles. While Miami’s star quarterback undoubtedly secured a life-changing payday, the actual value of his deal has been under scrutiny.
For Beck, the perception of being the highest-paid player in college football was an undeniable selling point. But in reality, he may not even be the richest quarterback in his own conference. The ACC, long viewed as a secondary player in the NIL arms race compared to the SEC and Big Ten, just saw Duke — yes, Duke — land a quarterback for a price tag that rivals what elite NFL prospects are getting in their first contracts.
Carson Beck to Miami: A business move wrapped in a love story
Sometimes, the stars just align. Carson Beck heading to Hurricanes isn’t just about football — it’s about timing, opportunity, and yes, maybe even a little romance.
Let’s start with the obvious: Beck’s girlfriend, Hanna Cavinder, is already in Miami, hooping it up for the Hurricanes. Take that GF angle out for a second. Miami was waiting for a quarterback like him to show up. With Cam Ward off the table, the Hurricanes didn’t have a solid plan at QB. Emory Williams was the best in-house option, but after his shaky Pop-Tart Bowl performance, Miami fans weren’t exactly brimming with confidence.
From Beck’s perspective, this move is pure business. If he’d declared for the draft, he likely would’ve been a mid-to-late-round pick in a class that isn’t exactly stacked at QB. Instead, he gets a fresh start in a system where he can shine, improve his stock, and position himself as a top prospect in 2026. After all, South Beach isn’t the worst place to spend a year. Win-win, right?
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