NFL Draft pundit and former ESPN personality Todd McShay was an observer at the Manning Passing Academy from the Nicholls State University campus in Louisiana. It's grown into one of the premier camping showcases in football, bridging the gap between players in high school, college and the NFL.
Among those college players attending the camp was UNC quarterback Gio Lopez, the projected starter for the Tar Heels this fall after they successfully recruited him through the transfer portal. Lopez comes to Chapel Hill from South Alabama, where he accounted for over 3,000 total yards and 25 touchdowns last season for the Jaguars.
The early returns on Lopez have been very positive, with the 6-foot, 220-pound lefty even receiving some praise from head coach Bill Belichick. Those vibes continued during the Manning Passing Academy, where Lopez earned additional praise from McShay.
My coach Gio Lopez from UNC put on a show at Friday Night Lights for the Manning Passing Academy. Happy to be working with another sniper from @TheSniperSchool. I’m sure Coach Ray will have us back together working again real soon! #noaccidents #meanttobe #snipers pic.twitter.com/z8FwaAnMu4
— Johnnie Maynard (@Johnnie_5th) June 28, 2025
"Lopez transferred from South Alabama to become Bill Belichick’s first college QB," McShay wrote on his website. "He’s short but has BIG arm talent and killed it in the QB competition over the weekend. The deep ball specifically is beautiful, and it’s clear he has a lot of confidence in his arm. "
It looks more and more like the Tar Heels found a potential gem in Lopez. As McShay mentioned, he doesn't have the size that might project at the NFL level, but for a college quarterback, Lopez' 220-pound frame is good enough for him to survive a season in the ACC. If he can push the ball down the field as well as McShay suggests, that adds another dimension to the Tar Heel offense.
But what really stands out about Lopez is the maturity that he has shown thus far. He sounds like a natural leader. Here he is talking about learning the little details from Belichick.
With Bill Belichick now at the helm of @UNCFootball , Gio Lopez has been absorbing every piece of info his coach has taught him @lopezgio1 #manningpassingacademy pic.twitter.com/ieHs0YDJPc
— Carlos Garcia (@CGarciaWAPT) June 28, 2025
"We've met a couple of times, and he talks about how interceptions change the game, how fumbles change the game, how not picking up a first down late in the game can matter," Lopez said. "Third down...just understanding things you don't really think about when you're a young quarterback."