Walker Eget’s role may end up defining how far Duke football can go this season.
The Blue Devils have a star in Nate Sheppard, but they can’t ask the running back to do everything. If Duke is going to find enough offense to win consistently, Eget has to be the piece that makes the passing game work.
That wasn’t a given after his first outing. A week ago, Eget’s debut looked shaky, as he completed 13 of 26 passes for 131 yards. But he answered quickly against Illinois, going 15 of 21 for 206 yards and three touchdown passes.
That second performance offered a clearer picture of what Duke can expect. Eget looked like a quarterback who can keep the offense on schedule with timing, accuracy and enough arm strength to thread throws into tighter windows. For a sixth-year senior, that kind of steadiness matters.
Even so, one good game didn’t wipe away every question around the passing attack. Jonah Burton stepped forward as the team’s new No. 1 wideout, while transfer Jared Richardson struggled. At the same time, Kavon Simmons flashed as a possible big-play target, and tight end Jeremiah Hasley continued to stand out.
Duke does have enough pieces, along with an offensive line that can support a functional, balanced attack. If that comes together, and if the defense holds up in similar fashion, the Blue Devils could take advantage of a schedule that looks easier than expected before the season.
Repeating as ACC champions still feels like a long shot, but it’s no longer out of the question. That’s where Eget comes in. He’s the proven option at quarterback, unlike talented redshirt freshman Dan Mahan, who remains an unknown because he hasn’t had enough reps.
The bottom line is simple: Duke needs balance, and that means Sheppard cannot be asked to handle 25 to 30 carries every week. Eget has the tools to keep the offense from becoming one-dimensional, and if he does, the Blue Devils can start to see whether they really have a path back to the top of the ACC.
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Duke Made Stanford Regret Its Pregame Confidence Fast
Stanford spent part of the buildup talking boldly about what its defense would and would not allow, and Duke turned that confidence into fuel. Nate Sheppard did most of the damage on the ground, repeatedly finding room as the Blue Devils controlled the game and rolled to a 35-7 win, a result that made the pregame chatter look especially misplaced.
The bigger problem for Stanford was that Duke never let the Cardinal settle in on either side of the ball. Manny Diazs group kept the pressure on throughout the afternoon, with the pass rush and coverage working in tandem to bottle up Stanfords offense and keep momentum firmly on Dukes side. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Fast Start Is Starting To Feel Very Real
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Sophomore back Nate Sheppard has been the biggest spark on offense, giving Duke a reliable playmaker every week, while Walker Eget has settled in as a more efficient game manager. The latest showing against Stanford offered another reminder that this start may be for real, with the Blue Devils making enough disruptive plays on defense to keep control of the game while the bigger question now is how long this momentum can last. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Eget Is Giving Duke A Bigger ACC Question
Dukes third straight win under Manny Diaz came with another reminder that the Blue Devils are starting to look more settled on both sides of the ball. After a road win over Illinois, they handled Stanford at home with a more balanced effort, and the offense again had enough rhythm to complement a defense that has been helping set the tone. Running back Nate Sheppard remained a key piece of the attack, giving Duke a steady presence as the season begins to take shape.
The bigger question now is what Walker Egets rise means for the rest of the ACC race. He followed up his strong showing against Illinois with another productive outing against Stanford, and the progress is real enough to keep Duke optimistic about where this group can go. Even so, the latest performance also left a hint of volatility in the mix, the kind that can matter once conference play tightens and every possession starts carrying more weight. [Read more 🡒]