Three Duke Playmakers Who Could Give UNC Major Problems Saturday

UNC must prepare for three explosive Duke offensive threats capable of creating major problems in Saturday’s rivalry showdown.

Nov 15, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarter back Darian Mensah (10) hands the ball to Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard (20) against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

After North Carolina lost its first Tobacco Road game of the season to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem last Saturday, the Tar Heels now look to stay in the hunt for bowl eligibility while attempting to reclaim the Victory Bell from Duke this weekend.

Duke enters Saturday’s game at 5-5, though its five losses have not been the fault of its offense. The Blue Devils average 432.7 yards per game (fourth in the ACC, 30th nationally) and lead the ACC with 302.9 passing yards per contest, ranking seventh nationally.

While North Carolina’s defense has been strong during the season’s second half, the Tar Heels have shown vulnerabilities, particularly in the fourth quarter — evident in a win over Stanford on Nov. 8 and the loss to Wake Forest last week.

Here are four players who will keep UNC’s defense up at night before the game:

QB Darian Mensah 

Nov 8, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) throws a pass against the UConn Huskies in the first quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Duke’s offense is powered by one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, Darian Mensah. The Tulane transfer has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 3,007 yards — the fourth-most nationally — with 25 touchdowns (third in the country) and just four interceptions. He leads the ACC in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing efficiency.

According to Pro Football Focus, Mensah owns a 90.1 offensive grade. For comparison, North Carolina’s Drake Maye posted a 91.5 in 2022 and Sam Howell a 92.3 in 2020. UNC’s secondary must be ready — Mensah is lethal on deep throws, completing 24 of 64 passes of 20 or more yards for nearly 800 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception this season.

Slowing down Mensah will be UNC’s top priority Saturday.

RB Nate Sheppard 

Sep 27, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard (20) tries to break a tackle by Syracuse Orange defensive lineman Nathan Nyandoro (30) in the fourth quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome. | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Freshman Nate Sheppard is one of the ACC’s best running backs. He has rushed for 700 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns, while also catching 24 passes for 157 yards and a score.

Sheppard has forced 31 missed tackles (compared to UNC’s running back room total of 32), has 24 runs of 10 yards or longer and eight of 15 or more. His 89.6 run grade from PFF is just shy of former UNC All-American Omarion Hampton’s program-best 90.7 set last season.

WR Cooper Barkate

Sep 20, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Cooper Barkate (18) celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter against the NC State Wolfpack at Wallace Wade Stadium. | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Call Barkate a smart young man—he graduated from Harvard in May 2025 with a degree in economics and is currently pursuing a master’s in management studies from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. He’s also something else: one heck of a football player.

The Harvard transfer paces the Blue Devils with 53 catches for 869 yards and six touchdowns. He’s moved the chains 40 times, boasts a 67.9% catch rate and has hauled in nine of his 16 contested targets — not just productive, but clutch when it counts.

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