Eli LedermanApr 17, 2025, 09:35 PM ET
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- Eli Lederman covers school soccer and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after masking the College of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa International.
Former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, some of the most sensible passers within the spring switch portal, has dedicated to North Carolina, he introduced on social media Thursday.
The No. 6 to be had switch in ESPN’s spring portal ratings, Lopez lands as a direct front-runner to say the Tar Heels’ beginning quarterback task beneath first-year trainer Invoice Belichick. In step with resources, Lopez will sign up for North Carolina on a two-year, $4 million contract with 3 seasons of closing eligibility after a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2024.
Lopez entered the switch portal previous this week two days after finishing spring camp with South Alabama. His dedication officially closes the Tar Heels’ long seek for a quarterback since Belichick took over this system in December.
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Assets stated that Lopez to begin with regarded as an go out from South Alabama all the way through the wintry weather switch portal window prior to opting to stay with this system. He stayed with the Jaguars via spring practices and participated in this system’s spring exhibit Saturday, however switch portal hobby from main Energy 4 methods continued within the lead-up to the spring window.
Assets advised ESPN that Georgia and LSU held discussions with Lopez this spring, every with an eye fixed on giving him an opportunity to compete for a beginning spot in 2026. In step with resources, North Carolina initiated touch with Lopez’s camp in March and persevered 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 3 quarterbacks at the roster — Max Johnson, Ryan Browne and incoming freshman Bryce Baker.
Browne, a former Purdue switch, entered the portal previous this week. Baker, ESPN’s No. 200 recruit within the 2025 cycle, stays with the Tar Heels after maintaining his dedication following trainer Mack Brown’s departure. Johnson, a 23-game starter, returns in 2025 after struggling a season-ending leg damage in Week 1 final fall.
A 6-foot-2, 220-pound dual-threat, Lopez emerged as one of the vital productive Staff of five quarterbacks within the country final fall when he led South Alabama to a 7-6 end in trainer Primary Applewhite’s first season. Lopez finished 66% of his passes for two,559 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 begins, including every other 465 speeding yards and 7 touchdowns at the floor.
In step with TruMedia, Lopez’s 8.20 yards consistent with passing strive in 2024 ranked twenty sixth amongst quarterbacks nationally. He additionally finished 38 passes of 20-plus yards final fall, greater than 27 returning passers around the nation in 2025.
