Charlotte, NC (December 19, 2025) – He never asked for the spotlight. He waited. He worked. And when his moment arrived, Curtis Allen delivered a season that changed the history of college football. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association proudly announces that Virginia Union University senior running back Curtis Allen has been named the 2025 recipient of the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division II football.
Allen becomes the first student athlete from Virginia Union University, the CIAA, and any historically Black college or university to earn the sport’s highest individual honor at the Division II level, marking a breakthrough moment for HBCU football on the national stage.
“Curtis Allen earned this moment,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “He waited his turn, prepared relentlessly, and when the opportunity came, he delivered one of the most dominant seasons Division II football has ever seen. His consistency, humility, and competitive fire set him apart, and this honor is a reflection of the standard he carried every time he stepped on the field.”
Allen’s achievement represents the highest finish by an HBCU student athlete in the history of the Harlon Hill Trophy. Previous CIAA standouts include Virginia Union’s Jada Byers, who finished fourth in the 2022 voting, and Earl Harvey of North Carolina Central, who placed third in 1988. In 2025, Allen pushed beyond every barrier that came before him.
His path to the award underscored the magnitude of his accomplishment. Following regional voting, the Little Rock Touchdown Club, in conjunction with the Great American Conference, announced eight finalists for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy. NCAA Division II sports information directors selected the finalists through regional ballots, advancing two players from each of the division’s four super regions.
The finalists were placed on a national ballot, where all 177 Division II school and conference sports information directors selected the 39th winner of the award, announced Friday, December 19. Allen advanced as one of two finalists from Super Region One alongside Kutztown quarterback Judd Novak.
The finalist field was dominated by quarterbacks, making Allen one of only two running backs selected nationwide. Each of the previous 10 Harlon Hill Trophy recipients had been quarterbacks. Allen’s eventual selection represented a rare positional breakthrough and a decisive national statement.
The 2025 finalist class featured elite talent from across the country, including quarterbacks Reed Charpia of Newberry and Marcus Stokes of West Florida from Super Region Two, Jack Strand of MSU Moorhead and Gavin Sukup of UIndy from Super Region Three, and Andrew Miller of Harding and Drew Nash of Western Colorado from Super Region Four. Notably, none of the finalists represented a school that had previously produced a Harlon Hill Trophy winner.
After spending three seasons in a supporting role behind Virginia Union legend Jada Byers, Allen stepped into the lead role in 2025 and authored one of the most prolific rushing seasons in college football history. In an era defined by the transfer portal, Allen chose patience, development, and belief in his program.
Known nationally as “Mr. 2K” and inside the locker room as “The Quiet Storm,” Allen led all divisions in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, rushing yards per game, scoring, and total touchdowns. He finished the season with 2,386 rushing yards, winning the Division II rushing title by more than 400 yards. His 30 rushing touchdowns and 180 total points were the most at any level of college football.
Allen rushed for more than 100 yards in every game this season and surpassed the 200-yard mark four times. His defining performance came on November 1 against Bluefield State. With Virginia Union well in control and Allen just shy of a milestone, he asked for one more opportunity. Given a single play, he slipped an ankle tackle, accelerated through the defense, and sprinted 85 yards to the end zone. Thirteen seconds later, he finished with 369 rushing yards and five touchdowns, shattering a single game record once thought untouchable.
At 6 foot 2 and 215 pounds, Allen combines vision, patience, and power; routinely turning routine carries into explosive gains. Despite often resting during fourth quarters, he still produced at a level that separated him nationally and forced every opponent to game plan around him.
Allen was the engine behind Virginia Union’s third consecutive CIAA championship appearance and continued national relevance, helping lead the Panthers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II playoff appearance. His performance drew national attention throughout the postseason and solidified Virginia Union’s standing among the nation’s elite programs.
His historic season earned him CIAA Offensive Player of the Year honors and recognition as the 2025 HBCU GO Offensive Player of the Year, where he was celebrated as Division II’s rushing king and overall offensive standout. Allen was also named a BOXTOROW HBCU All-American, selected to the Black College Football Legacy Bowl, recipient of the Lanier Award from the Touchdown Club of Richmond and earned multiple CIAA and HBCU GO Offensive Player and Back of the Week honors.
Beyond the accolades, Allen’s journey resonated because of who he is. Soft spoken. Faith-driven. Motivated by family. Throughout the season, Allen consistently credited his mother, his teammates, and his belief in preparation and purpose for his success. His approach made him not just a dominant player, but a respected leader within the locker room and across the conference.
In an era that often rewards immediacy, Curtis Allen chose patience. When his moment arrived, he delivered a season that did more than fill the record book. It changed perception, expanded opportunity, and reshaped what excellence looks like at the highest levels of Division II football.
Curtis Allen did not just win the Harlon Hill Trophy. He carved his name into the history of the game and opened the door for generations to follow.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the United States and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.