Duke used a big game from Nate Sheppard and the Blue Devils’ defense, along with a 28-point second quarter, to rout rival NC State on Saturday in Raleigh, 41-3.
Here’s how each positional unit graded out:
Quarterback: A
Walker Eget might have made the biggest throw of the game, and it came on his third pass attempt. After two straight incompletions and NC State’s crowd going wild, he found Jonah Burton for a 13-yard gain and a first down. The next play, Nate Sheppard took it 69 yards for a touchdown.
Eget settled in from there, looking composed and relaxed in the pocket.
Running backs: A+
What more can you say about Sheppard? He’s one of the most dynamic players in college football and should be mentioned in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Wide receivers: A
Eget has found chemistry with Jaivon Solomon,
who caught five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, while Burton, Javen Nicholas and Jayden Moore also contributed.
Tight ends: A
When in doubt, throw it to Jeremiah Hasley.
Offensive line: A+
Paved the way for Sheppard’s big game while giving Eget plenty of time in the pocket, giving up just one sack.
Defensive line: A
The Blue Devils held the Wolfpack to 32 rushing yards while recording two sacks and five tackles for a loss.
Linebackers: A
Nick Morris Jr., Bradley Gompers and Luke Mergott were seemingly everywhere on the field, combining for 16 tackles and a tackle for a loss.
Secondary: A
The coverage of NC State’s wide receivers was phenomenal. Let’s not forget it was safety Andrew Pellicciotta who returned the missed field goal 109 yards for the touchdowns. An all-around good game for the secondary.
Special teams: A
Gavin Strange has settled into the role as Duke’s main field-goal kicker after the injury to Cosme Salas, nailing a 46-yarder on Saturday. Kade Reynoldson is slowly coming back from his injury and is not at full strength, but that didn’t cost the Blue Devils much on his four punts.
Coaching: A+
With a matchup against Darian Mensah and Miami possibly on their minds, Manny Diaz and his staff kept the Blue Devils focused on the task at hand, a sign of both a good coaching staff and a mature team.
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke 41, NC State 3: Position grades for the Blue Devils
