A new era of ground‑and‑grow
Duke’s coaching staff has signaled a clear priority for the 2026 campaign: establish a powerful rushing attack that can set the tone for a balanced offense. The plan calls for the team to "pound the rock" first, using that foundation to open up the passing game later in the season.
At the heart of that plan is sophomore running back Nate Sheppard, who burst onto the scene as a freshman with 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns, the first 1,000‑yard rookie in Blue Devil history. This offseason he added more than ten pounds, sharpening both his speed and physicality, and the staff expects him to take on a larger share of short‑yardage and goal‑line duties.
Joining him will be graduate transfers CJ Campbell Jr. from Rutgers and Wilhelm Daal II from Yale, who bring proven experience and added bulk to the backfield. Meanwhile, Cole Denson, CJ Givers and Jayvian Tanelus look to carve out rotational roles as the depth chart settles.
The offensive line will be anchored by Rodney Freeman II, who steps up after Chris Foster’s departure to Florida, aiming to open lanes for the new stable of runners. Anderson Castle, who led the rushing touchdowns last season, is no longer part of the team, leaving Freeman to shoulder the primary responsibility up front.
The season opens on September 5 against Tulane, a game that will serve as the first test of Duke’s new ground‑focused identity. If the early results match the offseason work, the Blue Devils could enter conference play with a rushing attack that ranks among the most formidable in the ACC.