Star Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard is being listed as a true game-time decision just hours before a showdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Duke, fresh off a loss at Georgia Tech, knows just how important Sheppard is to this offense.

This is a sophomore who not only rushed for 99 yards on 27 carries with a pair of touchdowns, but he also led the team in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (91).

To be without him against UNC would change the trajectory of this Blue Devils offense, and while no one is ever rooting for an injury, the Tar Heels know just how much this game would change if Sheppard is either super limited or indeed ruled out.

Duke Roundtable's Zach Pearson started off the day with a story on Sheppard being a game-time decision, and he broke down exactly what this means for Duke's offense.

Remember, Sheppard is sixth in the nation with his 118 carries and 743 rushing yards, and he's tied for seventh with eight touchdowns.

When only focusing on Duke's run game, Sheppard is the clear RB1, and it's not even close. To say this offense runs through him would be an understatement, so North Carolina, who enters this game as underdogs, knows Duke losing him could almost guarantee their second consecutive loss.

Sheppard has 743 of the team's 1,133 rushing yards, so by himself he accounts for roughly 65.6% of the team's rushing yards. Not only that, but he has eight of their 12 rushing touchdowns.

Not only that, but Sheppard is second on the team in receptions (17) and third in receiving yards (161). Leading the team in rushing yards is one thing, but he's also the team's leading receiver with three touchdowns coming through the air.

The only other running back on Duke's roster to have a reception this year is RB2 CJ Campbell Jr.

The senior has just five receptions for 29 yards, so he may not be much of a pass-catching threat, but he's the only other player on this team with triple-digit rushing yards.

Campbell Jr. has 42 carries for 185 yards. His 4.4 yards per carry may be nowhere near Sheppard's 6.3, but he's at least picked up quite a bit of experience having been a college football player since 2022.

That said, this is Campbell's fourth team in the last four years, and he hasn't scored since his 14-total touchdown season with FAU in 2024.