From the couch to Canton. Fabian Duncan's football comeback rolls on
· Yahoo Sports
CANTON — Football felt so far away after Fabian Duncan graduated high school. The journey the Charlotte, North Carolina, native took to play again was long and difficult, but well worth it.
Duncan ran for three touchdowns for hometown Johnson C. Smith in the Golden Bulls' 27-7 win over Albany State on Sept. 6 in the Black College Football Hall of Fame's Clash at the Classic. The redshirt junior tailback has four TDs in his team's first two games.
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No one from Johnson C. Smith is surprised to see Duncan off to a fast start. He was the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2025 when he rushed for a league-leading 1,301 yards and 15 TDs at Allen University in South Carolina.
Getting to Allen was Duncan's first big hurdle. A visit to his coach at North Mecklenburg High School helped him clear it.
"I graduated in 2019 and was out for about 3 1/2 years," Duncan said. "I went back to my old high school and told my coach I wanted a chance to play football again. I knew I still had a lot more in the tank to give. I knew what I was capable of doing."
Duncan's coach contacted someone from Allen. The Yellow Jackets were interested.
After seeing what was in front of him, Duncan knew he had to take advantage of this opportunity.
"I haven't looked back since," Duncan said.
Duncan knew there were no guarantees when he went to Allen. He came in at the bottom of the depth chart. He really had to earn his spot.
"When I got to Allen, I was eighth string on the depth chart," Duncan said. "Coming off the couch, I definitely had to work really, really hard to prove myself in that conference and to my peers as well.
"The work ethic really never left. It was getting back into football shape and getting my mojo back. I already knew I was capable of doing great things."
Duncan transferred from Allen to Johnson C. Smith during the offseason. Continuing his college career at home has been a dream come true.
"It definitely feels really good to come back home to play for Johnson C. Smith and for my city," Duncan said. "The biggest thing is I can definitely tell there's a big culture fit with all the love and support I get from the school and staff. There's nothing like it."
Duncan's first two TDs against Albany State helped Johnson C. Smith grab a 20-0 halftime lead. His third TD came on a 40-yard run to start the second half. That completed an 82-yard drive for the Golden Bulls.
"They did a good job of running the counter, and that creates extra gaps," Albany State head coach David Bowser said. "When they create those extra gaps, a back with his vision and his power, he does a great job of putting that foot in the ground and cutting back underneath."
Duncan credits the Johnson C. Smith passing game for setting up his big day. In his first start, quarterback Damien Mazil was 8-of-10 passing for 138 yards in the first half.
"We knew they were definitely going to try to stack the box, so the passing game was going to be important this week," Duncan said. "We had a quarterback who was able to come in and do (what he did) for us. It helped me be able to do what I can do on a bigger stage here in Canton, Ohio."
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: From the couch to Canton. Fabian Duncan's football comeback rolls on