“It means everything’: Allen running back Fabian Duncan named SIAC Player of the Year

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) –The Allen yellow jackets are finishing off their second best season in school history and they’re doing so off the back of SIAC player of the year Fabian Duncan, the sophomore running back who’s rushed for more than 1000 yards.

A few years ago he thought his football career was over, but then he found Allen University.

“It means everything to me because at one point I thought I’d never be able to play football again,” Duncan said. “So coming back and getting this opportunity and meeting amazing people, lifelong friends its very amazing.”

Through ten games, the Charlotte native has an SIAC leading 1153 rush yards and 14 touchdowns.

Before joining the Allen Yellow Jackets, Fabian was out of school working a third shift job, but a run in with his old high school coach got him connected with Allen and he saw his life change.

“I’ve always been passionate about football. I just told him I need another opportunity,” Duncan said. “That fire just keep burning inside of me and I went to him and I was like ‘coach I been out of school for a while but I still work hard still go to the gym. I just want a chance to play football’.”

Fast forward to the 2025 season, the Yellow Jackets sit 4th in the conference and 8th in all of DII HBCU football.

But it’s no surprise to second year head coach Cedric Pearl.

“No Because I see it everyday in practice,” Pearl said. “I just wanted the world to see it, like I tell them.”

He says Duncan’s energy and work ethic is what drives the team.

“Well Duncan has been the same way since he walked in the door last year,” Pearl said. “Extremely quiet, confident, hard worker, great team guy and great character.  Guys like that, great things happen.”

However, like any running back will tell you, the great things don’t happen without the boys up front, who have nicknamed themselves “the vision.”

“They kind of named themselves that,” Pearl said. “I know, my mantra is ‘Pearl vision’. Me being a former 0-lineman I don’y know if that’s where it came from. I’m not going to take that credit. All I know is those guys work extremely hard man.”

For Duncan, the guys paving the lane for him are just as important as he is.

“They mean everything to me man. It all starts with them. There is no me without them,” Duncan said. “I tell them that all the time even when were in the game I talk to him and tell him I got him, they always tell me that they got me. We keep it that way. They hold me accountable just as much as I hold them accountable.”

Duncan and his offensive line have set program records in total rush yards and total touchdowns, as well as carries and rush yard in a single game. But it’s the sort of production he expects for himself.

“Absolutely yeah,” Duncan said when asked if he imagine setting these records. “I set the bar very high for myself. I see myself going to play professional football, that’s the main goal. With how passionate I am with the sport, I don’t play just to play. And I don’t work just to work. Everything has a meaning to is so every time I buckle my chinstrap and I put my helmet on Im trying to get somewhere.”

Now he and the Yellow Jackets have one more game and a chance to finish the season over .500 for the first time since 2018.

“We definitely trying to show what Allen is capable of and you know. We just getting started.”

Allen takes on Erskine Saturday in the inaugural SIAC-COC Challenge.

Kickoff is set for 4pm at Al Bolden stadium in Columbia.