Hawaii football lands former 4-star athlete

A former 4-star, all-purpose player will join the University of Hawaii football team this spring.

Melquise Stovall, who was at California for two seasons, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he will sign with the Rainbow Warriors on Dec. 19, the first day of the early signing period.

Stovall, who is attending Riverside City College this semester, said he will enroll at UH in January. He then will participate in the Warriors’ offseason conditioning program and spring training.

“Yes, definitely,” Stovall said of his intent to sign with UH. “It’s going to be a full experience. I’m feeling the Hawaii vibe.”

As a Paraclete High (Lancaster, Calif.) senior in 2016, Stovall was a highly regarded prospect as a running back and receiver. During his Paraclete career, Stovall amassed 7,650 all-purpose yards and scored 88 touchdowns.

Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN, Scout and Tom Lemming each gave Stovall a 4-star rating. One scouting service, 247Sports, ranked Stovall as the nation’s No. 6 all-purpose back.

Stovall initially committed to USC after his junior year. But he changed his mind and opened his recruiting. Notre Dame, Utah and Washington were among the schools that offered him recruiting visits. Stovall chose California.

As a freshman in 2016, Stovall played in 10 games, starting six. He scored a touchdown against UH in the opener in Australia. He ranked second among Pac-12 freshmen and seventh nationally with an average of 4.2 receptions per game.

He received a medical redshirt for the 2017 season.

This past spring, he announced he was leaving California and transferring to a junior college. Initial reports had him going to Arizona Western, but he eventually transferred to RCC. As an academic qualifier, Stovall is free to transfer at mid-year without delay.

Stovall said he already made an official visit to UH. “It was a nice setting for me,” Stovall said.

Stovall said he can be used at running back, slotback or wideout for the Warriors. He said UH’s run-and-shoot scheme has many of the same concepts as California’s Air Raid Attack.

Stovall, who is 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds, said he is capable of running 40 yards in 4.5 seconds.