Heel Tough Blog: Gio Lopez Enters the Portal
- Anthony Pagnotta
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
After planning to re-sign with the Tar Heels earlier this offseason, quarterback Gio Lopez has made the decision to enter the transfer portal.
As first announced by Chris Hummer of 247Sports, the Tar Heels are losing their starting quarterback from this past year to the transfer portal after just one season with the program. Lopez will have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands.
Lopez, who transferred to UNC after a two-year stint at South Alabama, started all eleven games that he was active for the team this season and had his ups and downs. In 594 snaps, he threw for just 1,747 yards passing, posted a 10-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and ran for just 133 yards and three touchdowns on 86 carries. Back in his time at South Alabama, he threw for 3,034 yards, posted a 22-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio and ran for 617 yards and nine touchdowns in 808 snaps over the course of sixteen games.
His departure means that the Tar Heels will have a new starting quarterback, which feels sorely needed after what we saw from him this season. New offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has already brought in Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. and is working to bring one of his former recruits at Texas A&M, Miles O’Neill, in to compete for the starting job this season with incoming true freshman Travis Burgess. While it won’t be the most talented quarterback room in the country, it feels like one that Petrino should be able to find better success with this group than Freddie Kitchens had with that room this season.