Duke’s best running backs
Chris Douglas has the most rushing yards in Duke history, 3,122 from 2000 to 2003. Since 2004, Mataeo Durant has the most, 2,562 in 40 games. Nate Sheppard is 4th, with 2,104; 164 more passes Deon Jackson for 3rd.
Duke’s running backs this season
- Nate Sheppard8 games, 121.5 a game2,104 at Duke, the 9th-most in school history. 148 more puts him past Tony Benjamin for 8th.972rushing yards
- CJ Campbell Jr.8 games, 35.5 a game284rushing yards
- Jayvian Tanelus3 games, 45.3 a game136rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Duke history
- 1Chris Douglas2000 – 20033,122
- 2Steve Jones1970 – 19722,951
- 3Randy Cuthbert1988 – 19922,790
- 4Mataeo Durant2018 – 20212,562
- 5Shaun Wilson2014 – 20172,463
- 6Mike Grayson1980 – 19832,441
- 7Deon Jackson2017 – 20202,267
- 8Tony Benjamin1973 – 19762,251
- 9Jela Duncan2013 – 20162,025
- 10Julius Grantham1982 – 19861,989
Nate Sheppard is 9th in school history at tonight’s number, with 2,104; 148 more passes Tony Benjamin for 8th.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.
Compare with in · side by side
Every running back since 2004
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mataeo Durant2018 – 2021 · 40 games | 2,562 | 18 | 3,042 |
| 2 | Shaun Wilson2014 – 2017 · 48 games | 2,413 | 18 | 3,138 |
| 3 | Deon Jackson2017 – 2020 · 44 games | 2,267 | 18 | 2,801 |
| 4 | Nate Sheppard2025 – 2026 · still playing | 2,104 | 25 | 2,692 |
| +972 this season · passes Deon Jackson for 3rd in 2 games at his pace | ||||
| 5 | Jela Duncan2012 – 2016 · 42 games | 1,985 | 17 | 2,319 |
| 6 | Josh Snead2010 – 2014 · 49 games | 1,769 | 8 | 1,936 |
| 7 | Jordan Waters2019 – 2023 · 43 games | 1,690 | 23 | 2,004 |
| 8 | Shaquille Powell2012 – 2015 · 44 games | 1,597 | 7 | 2,057 |
| 9 | Jaquez Moore2021 – 2025 · 39 games | 1,481 | 13 | 1,671 |
| 10 | Justin Boyle2004 – 2007 · 39 games | 1,278 | 17 | 1,412 |
| 11 | Juwan Thompson2010 – 2013 · 46 games | 1,244 | 9 | 1,641 |
| 12 | Re'quan Boyette2005 – 2009 · 40 games | 1,202 | 5 | 1,496 |
| 13 | Brittain Brown2017 – 2019 · 25 games | 1,126 | 10 | 1,344 |
| 14 | Desmond Scott2010 – 2011 · 21 games | 897 | 5 | 1,298 |
| 15 | Star Thomas2024 · 12 games | 871 | 7 | 1,024 |
| 16 | Jay Hollingsworth2008 – 2011 · 42 games | 860 | 4 | 1,289 |
| 17 | Ronnie Drummer2004 – 2007 · 40 games | 711 | 3 | 1,072 |
| 18 | Jaylen Coleman2019 – 2023 · 29 games | 706 | 5 | 812 |
| 19 | Clifford Harris2005 – 2008 · 34 games | 696 | 4 | 984 |
| 20 | Cedric Dargan2004 – 2005 · 11 games | 587 | 3 | 649 |
| 21 | Anderson Castle2025 · 14 games | 488 | 12 | 599 |
| 22 | Peyton Jones2023 – 2025 · 23 games | 422 | 5 | 539 |
| 23 | Joseph Ajeigbe2014 – 2016 · 22 games | 313 | 1 | 389 |
| 24 | CJ Campbell Jr.2026 · still playing | 284 | 0 | 322 |
| +284 this season | ||||
| 25 | Tony Jackson2007 – 2008 · 12 games | 259 | 0 | 365 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- › Nate Sheppard2025 – 2026 · 22 games2,104
- Mataeo Durant2020 – 2021 · 23 games2,058
- Jordan Waters2020 – 2023 · 41 games1,682
- Jaquez Moore2021 – 2025 · 39 games1,481
- Star Thomas2024 · 12 games871
2010s
- Shaun Wilson2014 – 2017 · 48 games2,413
- Jela Duncan2012 – 2016 · 42 games1,985
- Josh Snead2010 – 2014 · 49 games1,769
- Shaquille Powell2012 – 2015 · 44 games1,597
- Deon Jackson2017 – 2019 · 33 games1,585
2004–09
- Justin Boyle2004 – 2007 · 39 games1,278
- Re'quan Boyette2005 – 2009 · 40 games1,202
- Ronnie Drummer2004 – 2007 · 40 games711
- Clifford Harris2005 – 2008 · 34 games696
- Cedric Dargan2004 – 2005 · 11 games587
Also at Duke: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Duke record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Duke since 2004, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
- The numbers here start in 2004, so a running back who played at Duke before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Duke in its seasons.
- The record book's numbers are the school's own. Where they and the box scores differ for one player, the box scores are missing a game or count bowls another way.
- A running back still playing at Duke is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.