Former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, one of many high passers within the spring switch portal, has dedicated to North Carolina, he introduced on social media Thursday.
The No. 6 accessible switch in ESPN’s spring portal rankings, Lopez lands as a direct front-runner to say the Tar Heels’ beginning quarterback job underneath first-year coach Invoice Belichick. Per sources, Lopez will be part of North Carolina on a two-year, $4 million contract with three seasons of remaining eligibility after a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2024.
Lopez entered the switch portal earlier this week two days after finishing spring camp with South Alabama. His dedication formally closes the Tar Heels’ prolonged seek for a quarterback since Belichick took over this system in December.
Sources mentioned that Lopez initially thought of an exit from South Alabama throughout the winter switch portal window earlier than opting to stay with this system. He stayed with the Jaguars via spring practices and took half in this system’s spring showcase Saturday, however switch portal curiosity from main Energy 4 applications persevered within the lead-up to the spring window.
Sources instructed ESPN that Georgia and LSU held discussions with Lopez this spring, every with a watch on giving him an opportunity to compete for a beginning spot in 2026. Based on sources, North Carolina initiated contact with Lopez’s camp in March and continued talks via Thursday, when Lopez finalized his take care of common supervisor Michael Lombardi and the Tar Heels.
North Carolina entered Belichick’s first spring camp with three quarterbacks on the roster — Max Johnson, Ryan Browne and incoming freshman Bryce Baker.
Browne, a former Purdue switch, entered the portal earlier this week. Baker, ESPN’s No. 200 recruit within the 2025 cycle, stays with the Tar Heels after affirming his dedication following coach Mack Brown’s departure. Johnson, a 23-game starter, returns in 2025 after struggling a season-ending leg harm in Week 1 final fall.
A 6-foot-2, 220-pound dual-threat, Lopez emerged as one of the crucial productive Group of 5 quarterbacks within the nation final fall when he led South Alabama to a 7-6 end in coach Main Applewhite’s first season. Lopez accomplished 66% of his passes for two,559 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 begins, including one other 465 dashing yards and 7 touchdowns on the bottom.
Per TruMedia, Lopez’s 8.20 yards per passing try in 2024 ranked twenty sixth amongst quarterbacks nationally. He additionally accomplished 38 passes of 20-plus yards final fall, greater than 27 returning passers throughout the nation in 2025.