Former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez will transfer to North Carolina, he announced Thursday.

Lopez entered the transfer portal earlier this week after starting 11 games as a redshirt freshman for the Jaguars in 2024, and has three years of eligibility remaining. In his first season as a starter, the 6-foot, 220-pound Madison native passed for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns with just five interceptions, while adding another 463 yards and seven touchdowns rushing.

Lopez also posted a farewell message to South Alabama fans:

Lopez will play for NFL legend Bill Belichick with the Tar Heels, who are coming off a 6-7 season. With veteran Max Johnson sidelined by a broken leg, freshman Bryce Baker and Purdue transfer Ryan Browne took most of the quarterback reps in the spring, though Browne entered the transfer portal again earlier this week.

Lopez is among six South Alabama players who have entered the transfer portal this week, but the first to announce a destination. Also in the portal are offensive linemen Malachi Carney and Hayden Dozier, linebackers Julien Demby and Gavin Forsha and cornerback Ricky Fletcher, though only Lopez, Carney and Fletcher were projected starters in 2025.