The Tulane Green Wave did an excellent job of entering the transfer portal in Jon Sumrall’s first offseason as head coach. There were several holes to fill and he managed to fill each one and bring many talented players into the program.
Tulane, however, was not so lucky when it came to signing a local product from the class of 2025 to stay home. Running back Nate Sheppard, a star at Mandeville High School, will not be joining the Green Wave.
Tulane was one of the top schools he considered, but he will take his talents to Duke instead. Sheppard, a three-star recruit, revealed that it was his relationship with their running backs coach Willie Simmons that made the difference for him.
“There were a lot of variables that went into the decision,” Sheppard said, according to Joe Trombatore of NOLA.com. “There were a lot of good schools to choose from. (Duke) has a good culture up there and coach (Willie) Simmons. That was really the deciding factor.”
Sheppard built good relationships with coaches at other schools, but he felt most coveted by the Blue Devils and was one of the first programs to offer him a scholarship.
“The Duke staff was great,” Sheppard said. “I got a text from them every day, especially from coach Simmons. It’s cool, especially when the head coach checks in with you a lot. That’s when you know they want you. When you feel wanted, it’s a good feeling.”
As a junior at Mandeville, Sheppard ran for nearly 2,000 yards, and this season he has set his sights on surpassing that mark and leading his team to the state championship.
Last season, Mandeville narrowly missed out on the title, losing in the semifinals. Now that he’s joined Duke, he can focus on playing football.
“(The commitment) is a big weight off your shoulders,” Sheppard said. “I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to school, having my spot secured and so on, so that’s a big part. The goal is to build on last season.”
A big selling point for Tulane was its proximity to his hometown. Sheppard didn’t have to move far, as New Orleans is less than an hour from his high school.
But that ultimately wasn’t what Sheppard had in mind when making his decision. While he has high praise for the Green Wave’s coaching staff, he’s ready to spread his wings and see what other parts of the country have to offer.
“Coach (Brock) Hays is a phenomenal running backs coach (at Tulane),” Sheppard said. “Coach JJ (McCleskey) is something I’ve known since I was a kid. They were important parts of my recruiting process.”
“Louisiana is great, but there’s a lot to do in this country, so it’s really nice to be able to go somewhere else and play in the ACC.”
