{
  "id": 6446275,
  "title": "Duke’s Nate Sheppard named Doak Walker Running Back of the Week",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/dukes-nate-sheppard-named-doak-walker-running-back-of-the-week",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T17:17:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/duke-nate-sheppard-named-doak-171721887.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Duke's Nate Sheppard was named the Doak Walker Running Back of the Week for Week 1, despite not being among the preseason candidates. The Doak Walker Award, presented annually, listed 62 running backs, including 12 from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Sheppard's performance in his first game was remarkable, as he rushed for 227 yards, which is the fifth-most in a single game for Duke, and scored two touchdowns. His 32 carries and 2 touchdowns earned him ACC Running Back of the Week honors. This season, Sheppard has scored six touchdowns in four games, dating back to last season. His performance in Week 1 showcased his ability to carry Duke's offense and solidified his position as a premier player in college football. The Blue Devils' success this season is dependent on the performance of their defense and running game. Sheppard's impact in Week 1 was significant, especially after being overlooked on the preseason candidate list, making the achievement even more special for him.",
  "summary": "Duke running back Nate Sheppard was named Doak Walker Running Back of the Week after rushing for 227 yards and two touchdowns against Tulane.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}