Duke’s fast start has a face, and it’s Nate Sheppard.
The Blue Devils are 3-0 after last weekend’s 35-7 win over Stanford at Wallace Wade Stadium, and they’ll stay home this Saturday to face William & Mary at 3:30 pm ET on ACCNX. Under Manny Diaz, Duke is rolling through a season that has already outpaced most outside expectations.
At the center of it all is the sophomore running back. Sheppard has turned himself into one of the most productive players in the country, and Duke’s offense clearly runs through him. The Blue Devils have built an identity around the ground game, and he’s the engine driving it.
Through three weeks, Sheppard leads the nation with 528 rushing yards and 82 carries. He’s also averaging 6.4 yards per carry and sits fourth nationally with five rushing touchdowns. He’s scored multiple touchdowns in every game this season, including three-touchdown outings in two games.
That production has pushed him into the Heisman conversation. Robert Griffin III’s latest top five after Week 3 included Sheppard at No. 5, behind Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, and Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney.
There’s a little irony in seeing former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah and Sheppard both in the early Heisman mix, especially after the way Mensah’s time in Durham ended. But while Mensah moved on, Sheppard stayed put - and he’s thriving.
After the Stanford win, in which he piled up 156 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, Sheppard was asked about the Heisman buzz.
"I mean I definitely see it, you know, it's hard obviously nowadays not to see it," Sheppard said. "You know, we're only three games into the season, so I only take it with so much grain of salt and just keep trying to go out there and play."
It’s still early, but Sheppard has already put the rest of college football on notice.
In Other News...
Duke's ACC Push Just Got A Lift From An Unexpected Place
Duke heads into its bye week at 4-0 after a 62-7 win over William & Mary, a result that gave the Blue Devils a little extra breathing room as the ACC race starts to take shape. The passing game was a focal point again, with Walker Eget and Dan Mahan both working efficiently, and the day also offered a look at how much young talent is beginning to filter into the rotation on both sides of the ball.
For a team trying to stay in the mix for the league title, the encouraging part is obvious: Duke keeps finding ways to stack wins while spreading the load beyond the usual core. The lingering issue is less about the scoreboard than the style points, because the defense still gave up a few explosive moments that will matter more against better opponents, and that remains the kind of wrinkle the Blue Devils have to clean up before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Heads Into The Bye Looking Like A Real ACC Threat
Duke rolled past William & Mary 62-7 to move to 4-0, and the performance gave the Blue Devils another reminder of how complete they have looked through the first month. Walker Eget and Dan Mahan helped keep the offense moving, Nate Sheppard added a steady presence on the ground, and a deep group of receivers found room to work as Duke kept layering big plays onto a fast start to the season.
The defense was just as impressive, suffocating William & Mary for most of the afternoon and never allowing the game to get comfortable. A brief spark from the visitors was the lone real threat, but otherwise Duke controlled the line of scrimmage and heads into its bye week with the kind of balance and momentum that makes ACC opponents take notice. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Has A Chance To Keep Its Early Momentum Rolling Saturday
Duke gets another chance to build on its early-season momentum Saturday when it hosts William & Mary at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Blue Devils are coming off a win over Stanford and will try to keep a strong start rolling as the calendar turns deeper into September, with kickoff set for the afternoon on the Durham campus.
Manny Diazs team is aiming for a 4-0 start for the second time in his tenure, a benchmark that would further firm up the programs early footing. William & Mary arrives at 2-2, which gives Duke a nonconference matchup with a little more intrigue than the average tune-up, even before the Blue Devils turn back to the grind of their ACC slate. [Read more 🡒]