Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Name Gio Lopez Starting Quarterback

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All intel from around camp had been pointing to it happening and on Wednesday afternoon, Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick made it known who his starting quarterback will be for the season opener vs. TCU.

After dominating the majority of the first team reps in training camp, South Alabama transfer quarterback Gio Lopez was announced as the Tar Heels’ starter for Monday night’s game in Kenan Stadium.

Lopez, who ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the portal in the spring window, is coming off a two-year career at South Alabama where he helped lead the Jaguars' offense to plenty of success. Back in 2023, Lopez played in four games, starting his first career game against Troy, where he completed 17 of his 27 passes for 155 yards and an interception. He was much better in his next start in the team’s bowl game against Eastern Michigan as he threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 14 of 19 passing and rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.

This past season was Lopez’s breakout year as he started eleven of the team’s twelve games, missing the second game of the season. In those eleven games that he started, the Jaguars posted a 6-5 record while Lopez completed 206 of his 312 passes (66% completion percentage) for 2,559 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 463 yards and seven touchdowns on 83 carries.

This move should come as no surprise to Tar Heel fans, especially after the team paid him a $4 million NIL deal over the course of two years back in April when they scooped him up in the transfer portal. Lopez provided a higher ceiling than Max Johnson does for this offense and with his arm strength, accuracy and running ability, he has a chance to be one of the ACC’s top quarterbacks this season if he can adjust to the level of competition quickly. That will be the biggest challenge that he will have to overcome, but it is a hurdle that his talent should be able to clear, especially by the time the team dives into conference play.