Duke running back Wilson named National Freshman of the Week

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Blue Devils freshman running back Shaun Wilson was named the National Freshman of the Week by Athlon Sports following his record-breaking performance in Saturday’s 41-3 home victory over Kansas.

Hailing from Charlotte, N.C., Wilson rushed 12 times for a school single-game record 245 yards with three touchdowns.

The yardage total, which eclipsed Robert Baldwin’s school standard of 238 yards set against Maryland in 1994, also ranks as the fourth-highest single-game total by a freshman in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history.

Overall, the rushing yardage total marks the 27th-highest single-game total in ACC history.

While averaging 20.4 yards per attempt against the Jayhawks, Wilson rushed for three touchdowns on runs of 45, 68 and 69 yards to match Duke’s single-game record for total points (18) by a freshman, equaling the standard set by DeVon Edwards against N.C. State in 2013.

Additionally, the rushing total marks the third-highest single-game total in FBS action this season behind South Florida’s Marlon Mack (275 vs. Western Carolina) and Indiana’s Tevin Coleman (247 vs. Indiana State).

With the win over Kansas, Duke improved to 3-0 for the first time since winning its first seven games during the 1994 season.