Despite recently signing South Alabama signal caller Gio Lopez, Bill Belichick and the UNC football program were set to host Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada on an official visit this week.
According to CBS Sports writer Chris Hummer, that visit is off.
Georgia transfer QB Jaden Rashada is no longer visiting North Carolina, a source tells @JTalty and I for @247Sports/@CBSSports. https://t.co/xyz6koqVyh https://t.co/flpSnnWZPw
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 22, 2025
So to recap a swirly-twirly offseason in the transfer portal: UNC pulled Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne from the transfer portal, solidified a commitment from four-star recruit Bryce Baker, signed Gio Lopez (the No. 6 available transfer in ESPN's spring portal rankings) from South Alabama, LOST Ryan Browne BACK to Purdue, and then kicked the tires on Georgia's Rashada. Oh, and Max Johnson, who absolutely destroyed his leg at Minnesota last season (requiring six surgeries before he could return to Chapel Hill), is back practicing, though it's probably too soon for him to be firmly in the mix for the starting quarterback job.
According to Hummer, it was UNC that cancelled Rashada's official visit, so what game is coach Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi playing? According to ESPN, Gio Lopez, who has three years of eligibility remaining, is on a two-year, $4M contract. That's serious money, so you'd have to assume North Carolina has some level of faith in Lopez.
Will the Tar Heels look to make more moves in the transfer portal? With Johnson still recovering and Baker completely inexperienced, you'd probably want one more experienced arm in the quarterbacks room. Whether it's a competent back-up or a ceiling raiser like Rashada remains to be seen.