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 CIAA 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, 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,” CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker said. “He waited his turn, prepared relentlessly, and when the opportunity came, he delivered one of the most dominant seasons DII football has ever seen.” 

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. 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 DII school and conference sports information directors selected the 39th winner of the award, Dec. 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 recipients had been quarterbacks. Allen’s eventual selection represented a rare positional breakthrough and a decisive national statement. 

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 DII 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 Nov. 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. 

In an era that often rewards immediacy, 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 DII 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. 

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