Can UNC add a third quarterback to its 2025 room?
Day by day, collegiate sports increasingly feel professional. This is thanks to the NIL world and transfer portal, both of which create a process eerily similar to free agency.
There’s positives to the transfer portal, though, with teams using it to address holes on their rosters. The North Carolina Tar Heels have a small hole at quarterback for their 2025 football season, due to eventual 2024 starter Jacolby Criswell transferring to East Tennessee State, while original 2024 starter Max Johnson missed most of last season with a broken leg.
UNC was named a wild card destination for Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava on Sunday, April 13, but that lasted just a day. North Carolina now pivots its attention to South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, whom it is a favorite to land, according to On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos.
Lopez led the Jaguars to a 7-6 record in 2024, capped off by a 30-23 victory over Western Michigan in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl on December 14.
In his first season as South Alabama’s full-time starter, Lopez threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns – with just five interceptions. Lopez also rushed for 465 yards and seven additional scores, providing a dual-threat ability that programs salivate over in today’s game.
Quarterback is an area of need for the Tar Heels, who only sport incoming 4-star freshman Bryce Baker and Purdue transfer Ryan Browne on their roster. I’m sure UNC will carry a couple extra walk-ons once its 2025 roster is finalized, but landing an experienced guy like Lopez is crucial in finalizing things.
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Source link : https://tarheelswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/tarheels/football/2025/04/14/unc-football-transfer-portal-gio-lopez-south-alabama-on3/83090030007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-14 23:27:00
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