Jan. 27, 2026, 3:30 p.m. ET
Early on Tuesday, it was announced that Duke and quarterback Darian Mensah reached a settlement agreement on his previously signed contract, allowing him to transfer. Miami has been the known top landing spot for the former Blue Devil — and now is considered to be the top landing spot for his star wide receiver at Duke, Cooper Barkate.
Per 247Sports’ Gaby Urrutia, Barkate arrived in Miami for a visit with the Hurricanes on Tuesday afternoon.
Barkate was just a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Mater Dei High School, committing to play football at Harvard. He competed for the Crimson from 2022-2024, redshirting as a true freshman before seeing more time in 2023, catching 40 passes for 501 yards and three touchdowns.
He blossomed into one of the top receivers in the Ivy League as a redshirt sophomore, recording 63 catches for 1,084 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He then transferred to Duke, where he and Mensah formed one of the top QB-WR duos in the ACC. Both were named as second-team All-ACC performers, as Barkate finished the season with career-highs in receptions (72), yards (1,106) and scored seven touchdowns.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
For his final season of eligibility, the former Blue Devils and Crimson star wideout is a top target for the Hurricanes to add.
If he were to join the Miami program, along with his quarterback in Mensah, the Hurricanes would walk into next season with Mensah throwing passes to Barkate and 2025 true freshman phenom Malachi Toney with standout running back Mark Fletcher Jr. in the backfield. Simply put, it would be one of the top skill position units in college football.
Barkate’s visit is something to monitor over the coming hours and days, as a commitment may be coming soon.
Contact/Follow@College_Wire on X and@College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.