Duke star running back Nate Sheppard a game-time decision for game vs. North Carolina

DURHAM — Duke star running back Nate Sheppard, the nation’s leading rusher, is a game-time decision for the Blue Devils’ rivalry game with North Carolina on Saturday afternoon.

Sheppard is averaging 148.6 rushing yards per game through five games for Duke (4-1, 1-1 in the ACC). 

Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Shepard is second on the team in receptions with 17.

“He's a good receiver,” UNC coach Bill Belichick said earlier this week. “He's very good at breaking tackles, making yards after contact. Tackling is going to be, as it always is, really important for us. But particularly, with him, he looks very, very good, very productive. As I said, both catching the ball and running with it.”

Sheppard took a short pass for 45 yards to position the Blue Devils for a game-tying kick in the final seconds against Georgia Tech, which Duke missed.

“If you let Sheppard out, you're going to pay for it,” Belichick said.

Sheppard did participate in pre-game warm-ups before the game.

UNC (3-2, 1-1 in the ACC) will be without starting defensive backs Kaleb Cost and Tre Miller and offensive lineman Jordan Hall. Cost and Miller were injured in last week’s win against Pittsburgh.

UNC defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson, defensive back Greg Smith and tight end Jordan Washington are considered game-time decisions. 

Duke starting center Matt Craycraft is out with an injury. Starting kicker Cosme Salas is out for the season.

Duke has won the last two games between the rivals, including a 32-25 victory in Chapel Hill to keep control of the Victory Bell in 2025. The last four meetings have been decided by seven or fewer points.

Duke has allowed just one sack this season, but will face a stiff challenge from the Tar Heels’ defensive front. Xavier Lewis has a team-high six sacks and five other players have recorded at least 0.5 sacks on the year.

“"It’s not ‘might be’ the strength of their team, it is the strength of their team," Duke coach Manny Diaz said. "They are really, really good up front."