Duke Star Nate Sheppard Receives High Praise From Boston College HC

The Duke Blue Devils were able to grab a win last week over the Virginia Cavaliers, ending a two-game losing streak.

Duke started the year off on a high note, but over the last few weeks, the team has fallen back down to earth. But the win over Virginia does give this team some life, especially in the ACC.

The Blue Devils will now be taking on the Boston College Eagles this week, offering the team a chance to earn another win. Duke comes into the game with a record of 5-2 on the season, going 2-2 so far in ACC play.

As for Boston College, the team has gone 4-3 on the season, including a record of 2-2 in ACC games. The Eagles come in having won two straight games, with an impressive win over Georgia Tech last week.

For the Blue Devils, this game against Boston College could come down to running back Nate Sheppard, who has been excellent for them all year. For the year, Sheppard has rushed for 875 yards with nine touchdowns.

But this week, he could be the key for this Duke team, especially against a shaky Eagles run defense. Boston College has allowed 151.1 yards per game on the ground, potentially opening the door for Sheppard to have a strong outing.

Before the game, Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien had high praise for Sheppard, understanding that he is a catalyst for the Blue Devils. O’Brien sees Duke as a well-coached team, with a strong offensive line that helps Sheppard get his spots during games.

Sheppard is easily the most important piece of the Blue Devils' offense, and when he is on his game, it helps open up everything else for Duke. Quarterback Walker Eget has more opportunities when the defense has to scheme against Sheppard, giving the team a well-rounded approach to offense.

Against Virginia, Sheppard only carried the ball 15 times, and the Blue Devils will try to get him more involved this week. The star running back has to touch the ball at the very least 20 times, giving Duke more of a chance to score.

If Sheppard can put together another strong outing this week, Duke will have a better chance of getting the win, building momentum for the rest of the year. Kickoff for the game between Duke and Boston College is scheduled for 9 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET.