Start spreading the news. Former Sacramento State quarterback Ricky Ray is back in the NFL after signing a four-year contract with the New York Jets on Friday.

The 24-year-old Ray spent the last two years with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He led Edmonton to a Grey Cup Championship last season and was voted the league’s MVP.

“The Eskimo players and coaches take pride in helping Ricky fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL,” Eskimos president and CEO Hugh Campbell said in a press release. “Ricky Ray is a tremendous young man with a bright future and we wish him great success.”

Ray completed 348-of-515 passing attempts for 4,640 yards and 35 touchdowns last season. His 67.6 completion percentage led the CFL.

Financial terms of the contract are not yet known. Ray was reportedly considering offers from the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He was entering an option year of his contract with Edmonton and had until Sunday to sign with an NFL team.

Ray is expected to compete with Brooks Bollinger for the Jets backup quarterback position, behind starter Chad Pennington.

“Ricky Ray has started 37 professional football games and led his team to a CFL Championship,” Jets General Manager Terry Bradway said in a press release. “He brings youth and adds depth to our quarterback position.”

A native of Redding, Ray left Sac State in 2001 as one of the top passers in school history, ranking first all-time in completion percentage (.619), third in touchdowns (33) and fourth in yards (4,622) and completions (347).

He signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers after not being selected in the 2001 NFL Draft. He attended training camp with the 49ers and dressed for a pre-season game, but was released shortly afterwards. He played seven games with Fresno Frenzy of ArenaFootballLeague2 before signing with Edmonton.

“It’s definitely a dream and a goal to make it back to the NFL,” Ray told The State Hornet in November.

Ray joins New England Patriots long-snapper Lonie Paxton and New Orleans Saints offensive guard Terence Wagner as the only Sac State alumni playing in the NFL.