Virginia Union University has played football games with and against Isaac Anderson.

The Panthers much prefer the “with Isaac” part.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior defensive lineman began his college career at Chowan where he won CIAA Rookie Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Now he’s drawing national attention for VUU.

The Panthers junior – who wears the same No. 97 jersey he wore at Chowan – has made the Black Colleges National Player of the Year Watch List.

The eventual winner will receive the Deacon Jones Trophy (as the top HBCU player in the nation) to be awarded Feb. 24 at the Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.

Anderson made second team, All-CIAA a year ago for the Panthers and is a first team, preseason All-CIAA pick this go-round.

“We knew he was good from playing against him,” said VUU Coach Alvin Parker. “He put his name in the (transfer) portal and that’s how he came here.

“Actually, he contacted us first.”

Originally from Florida, Anderson attended high school in Jacksonville, Fla., and signed with Chowan in Murfreesboro, N.C., which was in the CIAA until this year.The Hawks now compete in the USA South Atlantic Conference.

In his first season as a Panther, Anderson had 39 tackles, includ- ing 14 for losses with five sacks. His performance helped VUU to a 9-2 record and an NCAA Division II playoff bid.

“Isaac plays fast, never stops,” said Coach Parker, who labels him as “a tweener.”

That means he’s big and strong enough to take care of business in the middle of the line, and quick and agile enough to cover the flanks and harass the quarterback.

Anderson has some in-state company on the National Watch List, starting with teammate Jada Byers, the 2022 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year.

Byers is a junior from New Jersey who has rushed for 2,898 yards and 41 TDs in two seasons.

Others on the Watch List:

• Hampton linebacker Qwahsin Townsel, who had 100 tackles last season, third most in Coastal Athletic Association.

• Virginia State defensive back Willie Drew, a graduate student from Smithfield, and offensive lineman Matt Foster, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound junior from Georgia.

The Watch List includes players from HBCUs on the NCAA- FCS and Division II levels and the NAIA.