Former South Alabama QB Gio Lopez commits to North Carolina - ESPN

Former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, one of the top passers in the spring transfer portal, has committed to North Carolina, he announced on social media Thursday.

The No. 6 available transfer in ESPN's spring portal rankings, Lopez lands as an immediate front-runner to claim the Tar Heels' starting quarterback job under first-year coach Bill Belichick. Per sources, Lopez will join North Carolina on a two-year, $4 million contract holding three seasons of remaining eligibility after a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2024.

Lopez entered the transfer portal earlier this week two days after completing spring camp with South Alabama. His commitment formally closes the Tar Heels' lengthy search for a quarterback in the months since Belichick took over the program in December.

Sources said that Lopez initially considered an exit from South Alabama during the winter transfer portal window before opting to remain with the program. He stayed with the Jaguars through spring practices and took part in the program's spring showcase last Saturday, but transfer portal interest from major Power 4 programs persisted in the lead up to the spring window.

Sources told ESPN that both Georgia and LSU held discussions with Lopez this spring, each with an eye on giving Lopez a chance to compete for a starting spot in 2026. According to sources, North Carolina initiated contact with Lopez's camp in March and continued talks all the way through to Thursday, when Lopez finalized his deal with general manager Michael Lombardi and the Tar Heels.

North Carolina entered Belichick's first spring camp with three quarterbacks on the roster — Max Johnson, Ryan Browne and incoming freshman Bryce Baker.

Browne, a former Purdue transfer, entered