UPDATE: Gio Lopez commits to North Carolina, expected to be a front-runner for the starting quarterback position

MADISON – Gio Lopez entered the transfer portal of college athletics and will embark on a change of schools leaving his starting quarterback position with South Alabama. The former All-State performer for the James Clemens Jets has committed to North Carolina to play for the ACC Tar Heels where he’s expected to be a front-runner for the starting quarterback position.

“Yes, North Carolina was definitely among the final three schools I was looking at and have talked to, all of which knew I want to come to a new school and start at quarterback,” said Lopez, in an exclusive interview with the Madison Record. “I didn’t enter the portal not be a starter, I can assure you of that fact.”

North Carolina completed the 2024 season with a 6-7 record under legendary college coach Mack Brown who retired. Since losing to Connecticut in the Fenway Bowl, the ACC school hired NFL legend and multi-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick and was a part of the talks between Lopez and the Tar Heels program.

“We’ve had phone conversations, as he is very straight forward. He’s seen greatness before and he knows what he wants and is looking for,” said Lopez. “For me, to go to North Carolina is a great opportunity as Coach Belichick has so much to teach and offer any college football player. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me as the program has several ex-NFL coaches on staff who can make a difference.”

Sources around the North Carolina program indicated the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Lopez agreed to a two-year, $4-million NIL deal with three years of eligibility remaining. He chose to enter the transfer portal just after completing spring practice with South Alabama. One college transfer expert has him listed as the No. 6 available player.

For Lopez, son of Barney and Dee Lopez, his football greatness all started in Madison at James Clemens after he transferred to the school from nearby Sparkman High. He wanted to tell his friends and current high school players, “Keep following your path you have chosen and trust in your path. That’s what I am doing.”

The redshirt sophomore started 11 of 13 games for South Alabama last season passing for 3,022 yards and 18 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns making him a dual threat each time he touches the ball. The left-handed throwing Lopez is considered to have one of the strongest and most accurate passing arms in college football and knows he can play at any school just given the chance. He suffered through much of last season with turf toe, but said, “I’m completely healed now.”

The transfer portal and NIL have certainly changed college athletics, but Lopez is as level-headed as any student-athlete in college sports. He indicated NIL will give him a great opportunity with some money for his future, but he added, “Yes, NIL does play in as a factor, but was not my main objective when I decided to enter the transfer portal. Even my dad, who I consider my mentor, and my mother, who is my rock, told me to make sure I make the right decision for the right reasons as money is not everything.”