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Del Grande and Sheppard Earn ACC Weekly Honors
9/14/2026 2:05:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke offensive tackle Nick Del Grande and running back Nate Sheppard received ACC weekly honors following their performances at Illinois on Saturday. Del Grande was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week while Sheppard repeated as the ACC Running Back of the Week.
Sheppard is the league's first running back to receive the honor in consecutive weeks since November 13 and 20, 2023, when Omarion Hampton of North Carolina was chosen for both accolades. Sheppard now has four ACC weekly honors in his career (three running back and one rookie), tied for the sixth most by a Blue Devil in a career. In addition, he is the first Blue Devil to be named the league's running back of the week twice the same season and the first to receive offensive back of the week (prior to the league splitting running backs and quarterbacks into separate awards) twice in the same season since Anthony Boone in 2013. Sheppard is the first Blue Devil to receive consecutive ACC Offensive Back of the Week awards since Dave Brown on September 7 and 14, 1991.Â
Del Grande helped the Blue Devils to a 2-0 start and opened holes for Sheppard to power for 147 yards. Del Grande provided Walker Eget time and space to throw for a season-high three touchdown passes as Duke snapped Illinois' 10-game non-conference winning streak. As part of a strong offensive line performance, Illinois registered 3.0 TFL for just seven total lost yards. The Fighting Illini had 1.0 sack for just a two-yard loss.
Duke's offensive line enters the week tied for third nationally with its 1.50 tackles for loss per game allowed and fourth with its seven total yards lost, trailing only Illinois (three), Miami (three) and Georgia (six).
Sheppard's 147 yards lifted his season total to 374 yards. He has posted triple digits on the ground in three straight outings to become the first Blue Devil to do so since Star Thomas in 2024. At Illinois, Sheppard scored on a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, giving him five consecutive games with at least one ground score. In the first half alone, Sheppard rushed for 104 yards on 12 carries and scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
On Saturday, Sheppard added a team-high five receptions for 41 total yards and two scores. With his touchdowns through the air in the second and third quarters, Sheppard tallied his first career game with multiple scoring receptions. Sheppard became the first Blue Devil with a rushing and receiving score in the same game since Peyton Jones did so at Miami in 2024.Â
With five touchdowns across two games, Sheppard has been responsible for 30 of the Blue Devils' 48 points this season, accounting for 62.5% of the team's scoring. This season, Sheppard is ranked second nationally in total rushing yards (374), first in rushing yards per game (187.00), fourth in total touchdowns scored (five) and first in total all-purpose yards (434).Â
Sheppard is the league's first running back to receive the honor in consecutive weeks since November 13 and 20, 2023, when Omarion Hampton of North Carolina was chosen for both accolades. Sheppard now has four ACC weekly honors in his career (three running back and one rookie), tied for the sixth most by a Blue Devil in a career. In addition, he is the first Blue Devil to be named the league's running back of the week twice the same season and the first to receive offensive back of the week (prior to the league splitting running backs and quarterbacks into separate awards) twice in the same season since Anthony Boone in 2013. Sheppard is the first Blue Devil to receive consecutive ACC Offensive Back of the Week awards since Dave Brown on September 7 and 14, 1991.Â
Del Grande helped the Blue Devils to a 2-0 start and opened holes for Sheppard to power for 147 yards. Del Grande provided Walker Eget time and space to throw for a season-high three touchdown passes as Duke snapped Illinois' 10-game non-conference winning streak. As part of a strong offensive line performance, Illinois registered 3.0 TFL for just seven total lost yards. The Fighting Illini had 1.0 sack for just a two-yard loss.
Duke's offensive line enters the week tied for third nationally with its 1.50 tackles for loss per game allowed and fourth with its seven total yards lost, trailing only Illinois (three), Miami (three) and Georgia (six).
Sheppard's 147 yards lifted his season total to 374 yards. He has posted triple digits on the ground in three straight outings to become the first Blue Devil to do so since Star Thomas in 2024. At Illinois, Sheppard scored on a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, giving him five consecutive games with at least one ground score. In the first half alone, Sheppard rushed for 104 yards on 12 carries and scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown.
On Saturday, Sheppard added a team-high five receptions for 41 total yards and two scores. With his touchdowns through the air in the second and third quarters, Sheppard tallied his first career game with multiple scoring receptions. Sheppard became the first Blue Devil with a rushing and receiving score in the same game since Peyton Jones did so at Miami in 2024.Â
With five touchdowns across two games, Sheppard has been responsible for 30 of the Blue Devils' 48 points this season, accounting for 62.5% of the team's scoring. This season, Sheppard is ranked second nationally in total rushing yards (374), first in rushing yards per game (187.00), fourth in total touchdowns scored (five) and first in total all-purpose yards (434).Â
The ACC's other weekly honors included Wake Forest's Gio Lopez (quarterback), Virginia Tech's Luke Reynolds (receiver) and Mylachi Williams (defensive lineman), Boston College's Anthony Palano (linebaacker) Cal's Kingston Lopa (defensive back), Clemson's Nolan Hauser (specialist) and Miami's Javian Mallory (rookie).
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Players Mentioned
Monday, September 14
Monday, September 14
Monday, September 14
Saturday, September 12
