On the eve of its championship showdown between Johnson C. Smith and Virginia Union, the CIAA unveiled its Players of the Year, Coach of the Year and All-Conference teams.
North Carolina programs were well represented across the board, highlighted by capturing five of the seven top awards as well as a strong haul across the all-conference and all-rookie teams.
🏆 Top Award Winners (Quick Look)
Coach of the Year: Maurice Flowers, Johnson C. Smith
Defensive Player of the Year: Kenyon Garner, Livingstone
Lineman of the Year: Jamari Mason, Johnson C. Smith
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Bobby Smith, Johnson C. Smith
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jaevon Branch, Elizabeth City State
Offensive Player of the Year: Curtis Allen, Virginia Union
Special Teams Player of the Year: Brady Myers, Virginia Union
Below is a full breakdown of this year’s honorees, with a special emphasis on players and coaches from North Carolina schools.
🏆 2025 CIAA Football Individual Awards
Coach of the Year: Maurice Flowers, Johnson C. Smith
In his fourth season, Flowers led JCSU to a 9-1 record — the most wins in school history — and the program’s first CIAA championship game appearance in 53 years. Flowers oversaw one of the league’s most balanced teams, which averaged 406.9 yards and 35.1 points per game. The Golden Bulls last won a CIAA title in 1969.
Offensive Player of the Year: Curtis Allen, Virginia Union
After developing behind CIAA legend Jada Byers, Allen broke out as the country’s most productive back in 2025. Heading into Saturday’s title game, Allen has amassed 2,098 rushing yards and 27 rushing TDs. He leads D2 football in total points, rushing yards per game and rushing yards per carry.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kenyon Garner, Livingstone
One of the nation’s elite defenders, the sophomore edge rusher leads D2 football in tackles-for-loss (27.0) and ranks third in sacks (14.0). Garner earned multiple CIAA and NC Football News Defensive Player of the Week honors. He recently announced that he was entering the transfer portal and has already garnered FBS attention.
Lineman of the Year: Jamari Mason, Johnson C. Smith
The senior captain led an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the CIAA while producing top-three league marks in both rushing and passing offense. Mason provided leadership, stability and physicality that helped power the Golden Bulls into the CIAA championship game.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Brady Myers, Virginia Union
A perfect 55-for-55 on PATs and 6-of-7 on field goals. One of the country’s most reliable kickers.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Bobby Smith, Johnson C. Smith
Smith made a statement in Year 1 in the CIAA. He rushed for 911 yards (second behind VUU’s Allen) and scored nine touchdowns. Johnson C. Smith rode its lead back especially over the final weeks. One of his biggest runs, a 6-yarder in the final seconds against Fayetteville State, clinched a win for the Golden Bulls.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jaevon Branch, Elizabeth City State
Branch was a breakout star in the Vikings’ secondary. He finished with 54 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss, helping the Vikes win their last three games of the season.
🥇 2025 All-CIAA First Team Selections
Quarterback
- Kelvin Durham, Johnson C. Smith
Running Backs
- Curtis Allen, Virginia Union
- Bobby Smith, Johnson C. Smith
Wide Receivers
- Brandon Wiley, Bluefield State
- Brian Lane, Johnson C. Smith
- DeAndre Proctor, Johnson C. Smith
Tight End
- Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah, Fayetteville State
Offensive Line
- Jamari Mason, Johnson C. Smith
- Bruno Onwuazor, Virginia State
- Benjamin Hicks, Fayetteville State
- Toriono Combs, Elizabeth City State
- Mathias Nielsen, Virginia Union
Defensive Line
- Kenyon Garner, Livingstone
- Shawn Robinson, Fayetteville State
- Jamal Jones, Bowie State
- Cadricus Stanley, Johnson C. Smith
Linebackers
- Chris Calhoun, Elizabeth City State
- Vincent Hill, Johnson C. Smith
- Matthew Leach, Fayetteville State
Defensive Backs
- Keyshawn Monk, Fayetteville State
- Elijah McKenzie, Bowie State
- Samuel Graham, Bowie State
- Daryl Taybron, Johnson C. Smith
Specialists
- Brady Myers, Virginia Union (PK)
- Danny Dales, Bluefield State (P)
- Isaiah Perry, Johnson C. Smith (KR)
- Zyaire Tart, Virginia Union (PR)
🥈 2025 All-CIAA Second Team
- QB: Rahsaan Matthews Jr., Virginia State
- RB: Micah Robinson (Bowie State), Ri’Jon Hammond (Virginia State)
- WR: Julian Crawley (Bluefield State), Jaylen Pretlow (Virginia State), Malik Hunter (Virginia State)
- TE: Reginald Hairston (Bluefield State)
- OL: Joseph Rounds (VUU), Tyleek McCoy (VSU), Adrian Crespin (VUU), Robert Early (JCSU), Jolen Thompson (FSU)
- DL: Kamari Frederick (VUU), Sir’Sean Ingram (ECSU), C.J. Brown (WSSU), Jalen Alexander (JCSU)
- LB: Jamieson Alston (WSSU), Mehkhi Johnson (VSU), Damir McCrary (Bowie)
- DB: Evan Powell (WSSU), Kamaree Wells (Bluefield State), Donavan Howard (VSU), Reginald Troutman (FSU)
- PK: Lukasz Smolen (JCSU)
P: Joshua Mitchell (VUU)
KR: Ty Lyles (Bowie)
PR: Joseph Towler (Bowie)
🌟 2025 CIAA All-Rookie Teams
Offensive All-Rookie
- Bobby Smith – RB, JCSU*
- Julian Crawley – WR, Bluefield State
- Isaiah Perry – WR, JCSU
- Rahsaan Matthews Jr. – QB, VSU
- Brian Lane – WR, JCSU
- Braydn Kesselring – OL, Fayetteville State
- Unique Kelly – WR, Fayetteville State
- Savion Witherspoon – QB, Bowie
- Anton Chavis – OL, ECSU
- Jaylen Pretlow – WR, VSU
- Alexander Marsh – QB, Shaw
- Javen Parker – RB, Livingstone
Defensive All-Rookie
- Jaevon Branch – DB, ECSU*
- Amari Best – DB, Fayetteville State
- Taviun Chandler – DB, Bluefield State
- Jatavien Taylor – LB, Fayetteville State
- Malachi Adkins – SAF, Livingstone
- Christopher Gordon – DL, Fayetteville State
- Joshua Jackson – CB, Livingstone
- Manuel Montout – LB, ECSU
- Michael Job – LB, Shaw
- Jason Parrilla – DL, Virginia State
Academic Award
- Freddie Vaughn Academic Award (2024-2025): Shaw University
🏟️ 2025 CIAA Championship
Virginia Union (9-1, 7-0 CIAA) vs. Johnson C. Smith (9-1, 6-1 CIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 15 • 3:05 p.m. • Durham County Memorial Stadium
Fans can watch live coverage on HBCU GO with updates across CIAA social platforms.
