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Photo by: Duke Athletics
11/10/2026 11:05:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard was announced Tuesday as one of 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award by the Maxwell Football Club. The 90th Maxwell Award will be presented in December to the collegiate player of the year.
Sheppard has tallied 191 carries for 1,189 rushing yards (6.23) and 17 touchdowns with 32 receptions for 306 yards (9.56) and four scores. He has completed his one pass attempt for 24 yards and a TD while collecting 1,498 all-purpose yards. Sheppard enters the weekend leading all FBS student-athletes in points per game (14.00), total points scored (126), total TDs scored (21) and plays from scrimmage of 10+ yards (49), while ranking second in rushing yards per game (132.11), rushing yards (1,189) and total touches (230), third in all-purpose yards per game (166.11) and fourth in rushing TDs (17).
A native of Mandeville, Louisiana, Sheppard has surpassed 1,000 for the season for the eighth 1,000-yard campaign in Duke history. He joins Randy Cuthbert in 1989 and 1992 as the only Blue Devils with two, 1,000-yard seasons. Sheppard is the first to complete consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Sheppard became the fourth ACC student-athlete since 1996 to collect 1,150 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 15 or more rushing TDs in a season, joining Dalvin Cook (2016), Travis Etienne Jr. (2019) and Omarion Hampton (2024).
Sheppard was named the September 8, September 14, November 2 and November 9 ACC Running Back of the Week. His four ACC player of the week accolades this season are tied for the second most in a year by a Blue Devil while his four running back of the week picks are the most offensive back (prior to the league splitting running backs and quarterbacks into separate awards) selections in a campaign at Duke. He was also tabbed the September 9 Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week, becoming the first Blue Devil in program history to receive the honor.
Three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24. The winner of the award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta. Tickets for the 90th Maxwell Awards Gala are on sale now at https://maxwellfootballclub.org/gala-tickets.
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Sheppard has tallied 191 carries for 1,189 rushing yards (6.23) and 17 touchdowns with 32 receptions for 306 yards (9.56) and four scores. He has completed his one pass attempt for 24 yards and a TD while collecting 1,498 all-purpose yards. Sheppard enters the weekend leading all FBS student-athletes in points per game (14.00), total points scored (126), total TDs scored (21) and plays from scrimmage of 10+ yards (49), while ranking second in rushing yards per game (132.11), rushing yards (1,189) and total touches (230), third in all-purpose yards per game (166.11) and fourth in rushing TDs (17).
A native of Mandeville, Louisiana, Sheppard has surpassed 1,000 for the season for the eighth 1,000-yard campaign in Duke history. He joins Randy Cuthbert in 1989 and 1992 as the only Blue Devils with two, 1,000-yard seasons. Sheppard is the first to complete consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Sheppard became the fourth ACC student-athlete since 1996 to collect 1,150 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 15 or more rushing TDs in a season, joining Dalvin Cook (2016), Travis Etienne Jr. (2019) and Omarion Hampton (2024).
Sheppard was named the September 8, September 14, November 2 and November 9 ACC Running Back of the Week. His four ACC player of the week accolades this season are tied for the second most in a year by a Blue Devil while his four running back of the week picks are the most offensive back (prior to the league splitting running backs and quarterbacks into separate awards) selections in a campaign at Duke. He was also tabbed the September 9 Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week, becoming the first Blue Devil in program history to receive the honor.
Three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24. The winner of the award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta. Tickets for the 90th Maxwell Awards Gala are on sale now at https://maxwellfootballclub.org/gala-tickets.
#GoDuke
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