JC Smith’s Fabian Duncan: ‘I love being the underdog’

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith running back Fabian Duncan is fourth in Division II rushing with 610 yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries for the Golden Bulls, including 159 yards on 30 tries in a 20-14 win against Fayetteville State at McGirt Field on Sept. 19, 2026. The Golden Bulls (3-1, 2-0 CIAA) going into their Oct. 3 game at Bluefield State.

Fabian Duncan’s goals were deferred but undeniable.

Duncan, a junior running back at Johnson C. Smith, spent one semester on campus when COVID-19 struck. He left school, went to work and got on with the transition to adulthood. The separation from campus life and football grew wider. If only another chance presented itself. 

“COVID ended up happening, and then I was out of school for three and a half years, and really had like an everyday life in Charlotte,” said Duncan, a North Mecklenburg High graduate. “I had an apartment, family, dog. I was definitely living, but my dream, my passion, is football and it also gave me another reason to come back and get a degree.”

Montez McRae, who recruited Duncan to JCSU, threw out a lifeline when he joined the staff at Allen, which is also a Division II Black college.  Duncan converted opportunity into the 2025 SIAC player of the year award with a conference-best 1,301 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. 

When Duncan made the decision to transfer after helping the Yellow Jackets to a 6-5 season, Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson, a longtime friend, North Meck teammate and 1,000-yard rusher in his lone season at Smith, encouraged him to go home. There was also the incentive of joining an ascendent program that won last year’s CIAA title and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the first in school history.

“I’m all about Charlotte, and I definitely knew what I can bring to an organization such as Smith, but also I can do it back in my hometown,” he said. “That decision wasn’t too tough. I end up coming back home, and it just happened that the program is developing to what it’s turned into.”

Said JCSU coach Maurice Flowers, who coached Wilson for three seasons at Fort Valley State: “Emmanuel called me and said, ‘Coach, Fabian’s in the portal, and I told him I think it’d be a good idea for him to play with you.’ … I tell you, for a recruit to be this sought after, it was probably my least amount of recruiting.”

Duncan fits in with the Golden Bulls, who are 3-1, 2-0 in the CIAA going into Saturday’s game at Bluefield State. Through four games, he’s racked up 610 yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries, fifth best in Division II and on pace to break Ernest “Warhorse” Williams’ single season school record of 1,176 yards set in 1976.

“Definitely some meat on the bone,” said Duncan, who averages 158.5 yards per game. “I'm not where I want to be. I don’t even know what it’s going to look like when I get to that peak, but I know I haven’t reached it yet. I’m not really surprised in the humble sense though, because I knew what I was capable of doing. I just needed the stage to do it, and I have the pieces around me, like my o-line. I love my o-line. … Take them boys up to get food, breakfast, all types of stuff.”

Duncan, who combines power and physicality in a 5-10, 210-pound package, has the ingredients to play professionally, Golden Bulls coach Maurice Flowers said. 

“He’s got an Emmanuel Wilson type work ethic,” Flowers said. “I’ve coached a few young men on the Division II level that play on Sundays, and what they all have in common is their work ethic was different, and Fabian fits right in. The way he meets, the way that he lifts in the weight room, the way that he does drills, the work that he does before practice, the work that he does after practice, and then the way that he practices.

“When you watch this guy practice, you’re not surprised that he gets the results that he does on game day. Every day is the game to Fabian.”

J.C. Smith running back Fabian Duncan, a North Mecklenburg High alumnus, prefers a physical style that confronts defenders. "I'm going to give it to you before you give it to me," he said.

Duncan gets most of the carries, but he isn’t the only option. Senior Kamarro Edmonds, who missed most of 2025 with an ankle injury, has rushed for 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 50 carries. Together, they set the  pace for the CIAA’s third-ranked offense at 384.8 yards per game. 

“That’s my dude,” Duncan said. “It's not a RB1, RB2. It’s 1A, 1B, and we call ourselves a pack a punch deal where somebody going to do something. It’s hard to sit there and stop us over and over and over again. You’re not going to be able to do it. It’s not going to happen. We won’t let it happen.”

Duncan’s contributions go beyond taking handoffs. Flowers praises his blocking and pass-catching skills, which make him a big play threat whenever he touches the ball.

“His running style is that of a every down back, and that’s really how I approach him,” Flowers said. He is an every-down back by our definition. He’s going to fall forward – he doesn’t have many negative gains. The second thing is he can pass protect. That’s one of the best things about his game. Fabian has a great understanding of pass protections and contributing with the offensive line. The third thing he can catch out of the backfield, so we’re finding out just what type of back he is.” 

Duncan is a bruiser – willing to confront defenders at the point of attack or in space. He takes pride in forcing tacklers to make what Flowers calls “business decisions.” 

“I’m going to give it to you before you give it to me,” Duncan said. “I love contact, but it’s a certain mentality you’ve got to have. One of my favorite running backs growing up was Marshawn Lynch, and I’m trying to quote him: when you run through (an opponent’s) face over and over and over again, a lot of people can't take that.

“I’ve started to see that in a sense where if I give it to you first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, you’re going to start trying to dive for my legs. Now you’re thinking twice before you’ve got to hit me, and by the time you do that, it’s too late.”

After last year’s record-setting campaign, the Golden Bulls are thinking bigger in 2026. That means returning to the playoffs and advancing. Duncan believes they can do it, and he’s up for the challenge of carving an impression along the way. 

“I love being the underdog,” he said. “I love the juice it gives me, the way I’m able to stay hungry. I think even coming back here to coach Flowers where he keeps me hungry, I think that’s why I love it here. That’s why it’s such a good culture fit for me – he doesn’t allow me to get complacent. … Be who you say you are.”

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