The Duke Blue Devils could lose another top player to the transfer portal after the Darian Mensah debacle.
The Duke Blue Devils appeared to be on the verge of establishing themselves as a legitimate football program after winning the ACC championship this past season, but Darian Mensah's decision to transfer changed everything.
Mensah initially vowed to return to Duke for 2026, but entered the transfer portal at the very last minute, breaking his two-year NIL contract with the Blue Devils to join the Miami Hurricanes.
Just like that, Duke is essentially back to square one. The Blue Devils have no clear starter at quarterback next season, and it's not like Duke represented a prime destination for top players in the portal, either.
And you know what? Now, the Blue Devils will have to worry about losing yet another one of their best talents to the transfer portal next year: running back Nate Sheppard.
Sheppard was phenomenal as a true freshman in 2025, racking up 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns on 5.7 yards per carry. He also caught 37 passes for 286 yards and a a score.
There had been some concern that Sheppard could bolt for the portal this winter, but he opted to remain in Durham for at least one more year.
Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard. Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images.But it stands to reason that 2026 could be Sheppard's last season at Duke.
You can bet that many of the top teams in the country will be prepared to pursue Sheppard next offseason. He is clearly one of the most explosive youngsters the nation has to offer, and the Blue Devils are obviously not an elite program.
Mensah made that clear when he left Duke in the dust in spite of his original promise.
Plenty of Big Ten and SEC schools will be attempting to pry Sheppard away from Durham. Heck, Miami might try again just like it did with Mensah.
And will the Blue Devils be able to do anything about it? Probably not.
Unfortunately, this isn't basketball. Duke does not carry the same cachet on the gridiron as it does on the hardwood. Not even close.
Sheppard is surely already intrigued by the idea of playing for a more prominent school, and based on how well he played in Year 1, it's hard not to imagine him doing so.
The Mensah debacle demonstrated that the Blue Devils are still not quite there yet, and to be painfully honest, they may never get there.
Duke Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Duke Blue Devils. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.