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Pitt secures commitment from Hawaii transfer wide receiver Melquise Stovall | TribLIVE.com
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Pitt secures commitment from Hawaii transfer wide receiver Melquise Stovall

Jerry DiPaola
3680529_web1_gtr-Stovall-032621
AP
Wide receiver Melquise Stovall is transferring from Hawaii to Pitt.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, who lost one transfer wide receiver when D.J. Turner opted to enter the NFL Draft, picked up a commitment from another Friday when Melquise Stovall announced his plans to enroll this year.

Stovall (5-foot-9, 190 pounds) played the past two seasons at Hawaii under wide receivers coach Brennan Marion, who recently was hired for the same position at Pitt. As a graduate senior, he will be eligible immediately.

Stovall could have returned to Hawaii, but he said it was time to find a new opportunity.

“It ultimately came down to trying to get into a better situation where I would be better utilized,” he said. “I think I can play running back and slot receiver, just as well as wideout. They have some voids that I can fill in the return game as well.”

During the recruiting process, Pitt coaches compared him to Turner, Stovall said. Turner has a similar build at 5-foot-9 and contributed as a receiver and return man last season.

Stovall said he chose Pitt for several reasons, including the ability to continue his relationship with Marion.

“If you look at the numbers,” Stovall said, “they’ve proven to put guys in the (NFL) just as well getting guys their degrees.”

He added, “It’s nice to have coach Marion as a coach, though.”

At Hawaii, Stovall recorded a total of 39 receptions for 480 yards and four touchdowns. All of his scores occurred during the 2019 season, including a two-touchdown game against No. 14 Boise State.

As a freshman at Cal in 2016, he caught 42 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns. The following season a leg injury kept him out of all but one game. He also played at Riverside City (Calif.) College in 2018.

“It was nothing short of a blessing,” he said of playing at three schools. “I’m grateful for my experience. It taught me a lot. Every school has been a great experience. I’ve had my ups and downs at every school that I’m grateful for.”

The addition of Stovall, who was a four-star recruit and scored 88 touchdowns at Paraclete (Calif.) High School, offers several options in the passing game for Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Even after losing Turner, five of Pitt’s top six pass catchers from last season — wide receivers Jordan Addison, Shocky Jacques-Louis, Jared Wayne and Taysir Mack and running back Vincent Davis — return. Plus, tight end Lucas Krull is healthy after missing most of last season with a knee injury.

Stovall said he plans to travel to Pittsburgh in May and enroll in Pitt’s first summer session.

Get all the latest on Pitt football and all things Panthers athletics.

Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.

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