Sheppard Picks Up Fifth and Sixth Midseason All-America Accolades

DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard continued his midseason All-America first team selections Wednesday with nods from The Athletic and The Sporting News. Sheppard has now been named to six first teams as he earned spots on the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated squads last week as well as the CBS and On3 groups Tuesday.

A native of Mandeville, Louisiana, Sheppard has 138 carries for 820 yards (5.94) and eight touchdowns. He has also caught a team-high 28 passes for a Duke-best 259 receiving yards (9.25) and four touchdowns. Sheppard leads all FBS running backs in receptions this fall and is tied for the national lead among FBS backs in receiving scores.

He has accounted for 40.6 percent of Duke's scrimmage yards, the highest such rate among FBS running backs according to TruMedia.

In each of the first four games of the year, Sheppard rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, marking the second-longest streak to begin a season by an ACC player since Tiki Barber's eight in 1996. Sheppard also gained at least 100 rushing yards in the first halves of each of the first three games, becoming the first FBS player to do so since Boise State's Ashton Jeanty from November 23 - December 6, 2024.

Duke (4-2, 1-2 ACC) travels to Virginia (4-3, 1-2 ACC) for a 7 p.m. Friday tilt on ESPN.