Gio Lopez was one of the most highly-sought after quarterbacks on the transfer market, and rightly so.
The left-handed thrower showed off his dual-threat ability at South Alabama, making him an enticing option for Power Four teams in need of help at the quarterback position.
While attending the Manning Passing Academy, Lopez discussed transferring to North Carolina, with a notable highlight being the opportunity to play for Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick.
It's safe to say that he has the perfect mindset for this new partnership:
“It’s a great opportunity to have someone that demands excellence. Just being with a coach that’s seen it all and has coached it all, just that kind of situation that you don’t take for granted. Whenever he speaks, everyone listens so it’s a great opportunity to be apart of.”
The feeling is quite mutual from Belichick's end, as the long-time NFL head coach had some great things to say about his new quarterback:
“He was really productive at South Alabama. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who has had plenty of productive yardage in both the running game and the passing game. He’s a tough kid who has played really well against tough competition and teams like LSU. It looks like he’s definitely ready for this level. We’re excited to work with him."
Of course, it's not a lock that Lopez will be the team's starting quarterback come opening week. There's a competition brewing in Chapel Hill, one that not only features Lopez but has freshman Bryce Baker and veteran signal-caller Max Johnson involved.
However, when you look at the bigger picture, you might tend to lean toward Lopez being the guy for the UNC football program, as his dual-threat ability, plus previous experience at the collegiate level, makes him a logical choice to start the first game of the Bill Belichick era at North Carolina.