Nate Sheppard Powers Duke After Choosing to Stay
Duke running back Nate Sheppard scored five touchdowns in a 47-2 win over Boston College on November 1, helping the Blue Devils reach bowl eligibility and strengthening his Heisman case.
Sheppard set a Duke record with five rushing touchdowns against Boston College, scoring 30 points in the 47-2 victory. The win lifted Duke to 6-2 and made it bowl-eligible for a fifth consecutive season. Sheppard now leads the nation in touchdowns and scoring, with 19 total touchdowns this season.
His rise comes after Duke lost quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate to Miami in January. Mensah had thrown for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns the previous season, while Barkate had 1,106 receiving yards. Sheppard, a second-team All-ACC freshman, had also drawn interest from other programs but chose to remain at Duke.
Coach Manny Diaz said Sheppard deserved consideration for the Heisman, arguing that the award should recognize players who influence winning. Duke rebuilt its offense around the running back and San Jose State transfer Walker Eget. Sheppard added 10 pounds during the offseason and has contributed as a runner and receiver.
Through eight games, he has 972 rushing yards and 31 catches for 302 yards. He also helped secure a 19-16 win over Virginia by throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass after taking a lateral from Eget. Duke entered the season picked 10th in the ACC, but its defense ranks ninth nationally in scoring, and the team is now 6-2 as it heads into the final third of the regular season.