Georgia Tech is about to get a full dose of what has made Duke so dangerous through four games. The Blue Devils arrive in Atlanta at 4-0, and the Yellow Jackets will have their hands full trying to slow down a trio of players who have already shaped Duke’s start.
At the center of everything is Nate Sheppard, a running back who has been one of the most productive players in the country. He’s averaging 7.1 yards per carry and has already found the end zone six times, putting him on pace for a career season.
His biggest day came in the opener against Tulane, when he ripped off 227 yards and two touchdowns, including a 47-yard run. Sheppard’s blend of cutback ability, downhill burst and power after contact makes him a problem on every snap.
“Offensively it all starts with 20 (Nate Sheppard). Again, I said this on Tuesday; he's a guy that we know well here.
Unbelievable kid.A great player, he's leading the country right now in rushing. Dynamic player, but just the character that kid has that Nate has is what's off the charts.
You see it in how the teammates play around him and block for him and block down the field. But they better all be blocking because I mean, he'll hit that thing and bounce it out the front side or hit the cutback,” said Key.
“It could be designed to go inside and one guy out of the gap or loses container, he's gonna pop it or he'll stretch it and hit the cutback lanes. He's all around back.”
Duke also has a veteran quarterback who is making the most of his chance to run the offense. Eget has thrown for 721 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception, and through four games he’s already posted career highs in completion percentage and passer rating.
He has given the Blue Devils a steady hand and has been especially sharp when the passing game has been called upon. His best outing came against Illinois, when he completed 15 of 21 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
“Quarterback is a sixth-year player, very experienced. He knows what they wanna do and what they wanna accomplish on offense.
He’s been around, seen a lot of football. He can deliver the ball where it needs to go.
He does an unbelievable job now of just his composure in the pocket, whether it's run, pass, play action, RPO, doesn't matter. He looks the same every time.
Doesn't give up giveaway tails. You can see the veteran in him.
You really can. Just the calmness he has, regardless of what the score is, he's just playing that play,” said Key.
The third name to keep an eye on is cornerback Flowers, a Western Kentucky transfer who has settled in quickly for Duke. He has 19 tackles and two passes defensed, and his strongest game came against Stanford, when he logged seven tackles and broke up a pass. Duke’s pass defense hasn’t been a strength, but Flowers is one of the defenders they trust to help clean things up.
His matchup could matter because Georgia Tech has found success on big plays from Dalen Penson and Jordan Allen. Flowers will likely see plenty of both, and he may end up matched with one or the other, or even both, as Duke tries to limit the Yellow Jackets’ explosives. That’s not an easy assignment, but Flowers has been one of the better corners in the ACC and will be a difficult player to attack through the air.
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The Yellow Jackets will need all the edge they can find, because the availability picture is not especially clean. Georgia Tech expects several key defensive players to be in the mix, but it also knows it will be shorthanded in a few spots, leaving the staff to manage depth carefully against a Duke team that has handled adversity well all season. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama-Georgia Suddenly Has One Problem That Could Favor The Bulldogs
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For Georgia, the timing could matter. The Bulldogs have leaned on a run-first identity, and sloppy conditions would naturally push the game toward shorter, more physical football. Alabama, meanwhile, is built to stress defenses through the air, so any weather that makes the field heavy and the wind a factor could complicate how the Crimson Tide want to attack, turning an already compelling SEC showcase into a different kind of test. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Faces A New Problem As Duke Game Stays On
Georgia Techs trip through a stormy week got a little clearer, even if the forecast still hangs over Saturdays matchup with Duke. The game is still set to go on as scheduled despite the expected effects of Hurricane Isaias, but the Yellow Jackets have already had to trim the pregame experience, with the usual buildup around Bobby Dodd Stadium giving way to a more stripped-down operation.
Inside the lines, the weather could end up shaping the evening as much as the opponent does. Passing conditions and the ground game both figure to be part of the conversation, and Georgia Tech is also navigating its own injury situation, with some key players unavailable while others are trending toward a return. [Read more 🡒]