The most essential football players just might be the ones that fans rarely talk about and hardly notice. Furthermore, their names are almost never announced on the public address system.

Yet, no team is traveling anywhere near the end zone without them.

In assessing Virginia Union University’s upcoming season, the offensive line – aka “The Movin’ Van” – may hold the keys to the engine and the GPS to the end zone.

“You always like to be strong up front, and we’ve assembled an impressive group ... four starters back; plus, we go deep,” said Panthers Coach Alvin Parker.

Meet “The Movin’ Van”:

Right tackle: graduate student Brian Gibson, No. 57, 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, criminal justice major, from Baltimore..

Right guard: junior Justin Meade, No. 58, 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, business management; J.R. Tucker High in Henrico County.

Center: sophomore Mark Lawton, No. 59, 6-foot-2, 280 pounds, criminal justice; Washington D.C.

Left guard: Sophomore Larry Jones Jr., No. 63, 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, accounting, Nandua High on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Left tackle: graduate student Darian Bryant, No. 76, 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, curriculum & instruction, Philadelphia.

A transfer from Temple University, Bryant is the lone newcomer to the quintet.

These are big men from big cities, except for Jones, who hails from the tiny town of Onley (516 population and less than one square mile).

Meade, the only local member of the “Van,” took the scenic route from Tucker, located on Parham Road, to VUU’s Lombardy Street campus.

Before VUU, Meade played at the University of Virginia-Wise, some 362 miles from Richmond. He transferred to VUU to be closer to family and friends.

“Justin is an overall a good player ... he’s extremely athletic, smart and aggressive ... sometimes we have to pull him off the pile,” said Coach Parker.

VUU covered a lot of land a year ago enroute to a 6-4 overall record and second place (behind Bowie State) in the CIAA North.

The Panthers averaged 28 points and 362 yards per game, with 208 coming through the air and 154 overland. A major beneficiary of all that blocking was then-freshman tailback Jada Byers.

Earning All-CIAA and CIAA Offensive Rookie of Year awards, Byers zig-zagged and powered for 978 rushing yards and 12 touch- downs.

There will be a new quarterback this go-round. Two-year starter Khalid Morris has moved on. Transfers Christian Reid (from Charleston Southern) and Jahkari Grant (Rhode Island) are vying to be No. 1.

So, all aboard for VUU football 2022.

“The Movin’ Van” is loaded and ready to roll.