Three Virginia Union University football players have been named Pre-Season All-Americans by Lindy's College Football Magazine, it was announced on June 6.

VUU's Jada Byers was named First-Team All-American while Armonii Burden and Justin Meade were named Second-Team All-American.

Byers, who will be a junior in 2023, was named Male Athlete of the Year at the RVA Sports while rushing for a CIAA-record 1,920 yards in 2022.  Byers, who is from Hammonton, N.J. and is majoring in Social Work, was also Virginia Union's first Harlon Hill Award Finalist, which is awarded to the top football player in Division II of the NCAA.  

Byers was also named the Don Hansen Division II College Football Player of the Year, First Team All-American by Don Hansen, First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, First Team All-CIAA and the CIAA Player of the Year.

Burden will be a redshirt senior in 2023, and is a 6-1, 229 lb., defensive end from Williamsburg, Va., and is majoring in Marketing.  He was All-CIAA First Team in 2022 while collecting 32 tackles for the Panthers last season.

Meade, who will be a redshirt senior in 2023, is a 6-2, 280 lb., offensive lineman from J.R. Tucker High School in Richmond, Va., was also First-Team All-CIAA in 2022.  He was a mainstay on a Panther offensive line which led the CIAA with 2,435 rushing yards last year.

"All three of the guys are big time players who have made major contributions to our program," said VUU Head Football Coach Dr. Alvin Parker.  "I am extremely happy for the individual recognition that each has received. It speaks volumes about the quality of student-athletes that are put on the field here at Virginia Union.  These guys are leaders both on and off the field."

Football season passes are now on sale in the VUU Athletic Department.

The Panthers open the season when they travel to Canton, Oh., to face Morehouse College in the Black College Hall of Fame Classic at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 3.