DURHAM, NC — Virginia Union University, the 2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) regular season champion, continues to collect accolades as the conference announced its annual football awards. The Panthers placed four student-athletes on the All-CIAA First Team, including two major award winners: Offensive Player of the Year Curtis Allen and Special Teams Player of the Year Brady Myers. Lineman Mathias Nielsen and return specialist Zyaire Tart also earned First Team recognition, highlighting VUU's dominance on both sides of the ball.

VUU added to its list of honorees with four players named to the All-CIAA Second Team: offensive linemen Joseph Rounds and Adrian Crespin, defensive lineman Kamari Federick, and punter Joshua Mitchell.

The honors come as the Panthers complete a perfect 7–0 CIAA record and advance to Durham in pursuit of their third straight CIAA Championship, extending one of the most successful stretches in program history.

Offensive Player of the Year: Curtis Allen, Virginia Union
Allen delivered one of the most dominant rushing seasons in Division II football. Showcasing patience, explosiveness, and elite power, he led the nation in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total points scored, points per game, rushing yards per game, and yards per carry among high-volume backs. After three seasons developing behind CIAA great and 2022 National Player of the Year Jada Byers, Allen emerged as the focal point of VUU's undefeated conference campaign and the most productive running back in the country.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Brady Myers, Virginia Union
Myers provided unwavering consistency all season, leading the CIAA with 73 total kicking points and ranking among national leaders in scoring. The junior was perfect on extra points (55-for-55) and converted six of seven field goals (85.7 percent), offering steady production in every phase of VUU's scoring efforts. His poise under pressure proved crucial as the Panthers battled through a competitive conference slate.

Coach Parker on the Awards
"I'm extremely proud of our guys for earning these awards and superlatives— they're a reflection of the consistent work, discipline, and commitment that lives inside our program," said VUU Head Football Coach Dr. Alvin Parker. "But what I appreciate even more is what I've heard from this group all day: their focus is on Saturday. They know that the greatest honor, the true reward, is the opportunity to compete for a 3rd consecutive championship."

CIAA Championship Game Information
The 2025 CIAA Football Championship kicks off at 3:05 PM on Saturday, November 15 at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
The title bout features:

• No. 1 Virginia Union University (9–1 overall, 7–0 CIAA)
• No. 2 Johnson C. Smith University (9–1 overall, 6–1 CIAA)

It marks a highly anticipated matchup between two programs defined by resilience, balance, and tradition.