Duke Running Back Nate Sheppard Makes History vs NC State

On Saturday, Duke running back Nate Sheppard broke a school record by scoring five touchdowns against NC State in the first quarter alone. This achievement propelled him to the school's single-season rushing touchdown record with 15. Before the game, Sheppard had already amassed 972 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in eight games, contributing to Duke's 6-2 record and bowl-eligible status for the fifth consecutive season.

Following the game, Sheppard expressed his gratitude to his teammates, crediting them for consistently providing him with opportunities to score. "I came in here and wanted to set records, especially at the running back position," Sheppard stated, according to Brian Stultz of Duke Wire. "And to be able to do that, it's a lot of credit to them guys up front, getting me in position so many times, and the guys out wide making plays, but it feels great."

Duke head coach Manny Diaz praised Sheppard's accomplishments, emphasizing the uniqueness of his achievement. "Can't say enough about him. I think everything that can be said has been said, but yet he still does things that no one has ever done. And again, it's not even November. I think he's got the school record (for) touchdowns of the season, and we've got four left to play, plus wherever they send us after that."

Sheppard, in his second year with the Blue Devils, previously rushed for 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, earning him a spot on the All-ACC Second Team by both the league and the Associated Press.