Melquise Stovall signs financial aid agreement, will join Cal football in spring

Athlete Melquise Stovall is the latest California Golden Bear who is going to be coming to Berkeley a semester early. After committing to the Golden Bears only a few weeks ago, the future Cal football freshman has signed his financial aid agreement to ensure he will be with the Bears in time for spring practice.

Welcome to the #CalFamily Melquise Stovall! #GoBears pic.twitter.com/4noPmS4I6V

— Sonny Dykes (@CALCoachDykes) January 2, 2016

The California Golden Bears have a significant number of early entry players in the 2016 recruiting class.  Quarterback Max Gilliam, wide receiver Jordan Duncan, running back Derrick Clark, offensive tackle Jake Curhan all are coming to the Bears early, as are junior college prospects defensive end Rusty Becker, offensive lineman Dwayne Wallace, wide receiver Jordan Veasy, and cornerback Marloshawn Franklin.

Before coming to Cal, Stovall has one last game to participate in as a high school player--the US Army All American Bowl on NBC next Saturday. CGB will have coverage of the event.

Here's the press release from Cal Athletics.

Cal head coach Sonny Dykes announced Friday that wide receiver Melquise Stovall (Lancaster, CA/Paraclete HS) has signed a financial aid agreement to join the Cal football program. Stovall becomes the ninth member of the team's 2016 recruiting class expected to enroll at Cal in January of 2016.

Stovall is a consensus four-star recruit who ranks as high as the nation's No. 108 player overall as well as the No. 3 all-purpose back in the 2016 recruiting class by both 247Sports and Rivals. He is also a member of Rivals250 and ESPN300.

Stovall was a versatile two-way player during his three varsity prep seasons, racking up 4,785 all-purpose yards during his three prep seasons.

Stovall had 1,847 all-purpose yards and was a big-play producer that tallied 14 total touchdowns and scored in five different ways (interception return, kick return, punt return, receiving, rushing) during his 2015 senior season. He registered 46 receptions for 740 yards and five touchdown catches with a 16.1 yards per reception average, while adding another 450 yards and six rushing touchdowns on the ground on only 40 carries for an average of 11.3 yards per rush. Stovall also had 374 kick return yards and one touchdown on 14 returns (26.7 ypr), 195 punt return yards and one score on 17 returns (11.5 avg) and 88 yards including one pick six on two interception returns. Stovall added 68 tackles, six passes defended, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal on defense and special teams.

On a 10-4 team as a 2014 junior he had 2,455 all-purpose yards and 24 total touchdowns. He rushed for 1,603 yards and 20 touchdowns on 198 carries (8.1 ypr) while adding 21 receptions for 415 yards with two scores. He also had seven kick returns for 176 yards, 14 punt returns for 209 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for 52 yards and one score, while making 32 tackles and adding eight passes defended.

Stovall picked up another 483 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns as a 2014 sophomore for a squad that was 12-2 overall. He also finished with 30 rushes for 283 yards and five touchdowns on the ground as well as one reception for a 55-yard score on offense, while adding 49 tackles, four interceptions that he returned for 83 yards and one touchdown.