If Jada Byers is the leading man at Virginia Union University, then Justin Meade represents the powerful supporting cast.

“Anytime you see Jada running down the field, you’ll see Justin running right there with him,” said Panthers Coach Alvin Parker.

Here’s how Meade, the highly decorated senior left offensive guard, puts it:

“We can’t do it without Jada and Jada can’t do it without us,” said Meade of the offensive line.

The oft-overlooked offensive line is anything but anonymous at VUU where they have a saying, “no line, no shine.”

Byers, aided by Meade and the rest of his muscular “Escort Service,” was off-the-charts brilliant in 2022, helping the North Siders to a 9-2 record and an NCAA berth.

Overall, VUU racked up 4,426 yards total offense with 237 first downs, 61 touchdowns and 41 points per game.

Byers led NCAA Division II in rushing (1,920 yards) and total yards (2,256), while scoring 21 TDs.

He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award (as top D-2 player in nation) and could even be a leading candidate this season, as a junior.

Meade, No. 58 in maroon and steel, is quick to applaud Byers: “He’s elusive and shifty. If there’s a big hole, he’ll find it. If there’s a little hole, he’ll still find it.”

Byers, No. 3, returns the favor.

Rarely does an interview go by in which the tailback doesn’t say, “I’ve got the best front five in the country in front of me.”

More of the 2022 success is expected this season, starting Sept. 3 (a Sunday) with a match against Morehouse in the HBCU Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio.

VUU began practice drills Aug. 4 under Coach Parker, who is 36-15 overall and 26-7 in CIAA in his previous five seasons. There was

no 2021 season due to the pandemic.

“We fell a little short of our goals last sea- son,” said Meade. “We’ll use that as fuel to keep going ... we’re back and better.”

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds, the business management major hails from J.R. Tucker High in Western Henrico. Tucker was not a strong program while Meade was there.

“We won six games in four years,” he recalled.

Still, the college coaches came calling.

While he had numerous offers, including one from VUU where he took an official visit, he chose the University of Virgina- Wise in the far southwest corner of the state.

That’s where he got “sick,” kind of.

“It’s beautiful and I started as a freshman, but it’s so far from home, and it was a little tough going from the city to the country ... I was homesick.”

That meant he was “coming home.”

Wise is 363 miles from Richmond. VUU is nine miles from J.R. Tucker High School.

Being close to home always enables him to follow the progress of his younger brother, Tyler, an eighth-grader at Quioccasin Middle School, and Cousin Jefferson Meade, a standout at Douglas Freeman High.

“I wish I’d come to Union in the first place,” Meade said.

Meade made All-CIAA as a junior and has been mentioned in several preseason all-star teams, including preseason All-CIAA.

Returning to the O-line along with Meade are Mark Lawton, Jamaree Moyer and Larry Jones.

Let there be no doubt, All-American Byers is the star of stars at Hovey Field. But his star might not shine so bright if not for the big guys clearing the way.

When VUU fans cheer this fall for No. 3, they might save an extra clap or two for No. 58.