The spring transfer portal is officially underway, and North Carolina made a significant move Thursday night.
A sophomore quarterback from South Alabama, announced his commitment to the Tar Heels and new head coach Bill Belichick. The 6-foot lefty passed for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns last season while adding 465 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. South Alabama finished the 2024 season with a 7-6 record.
UNC has several gaps to address this spring, especially after 12 players entered the portal on the first day of the window. While it’s tough to assess the full impact of those departures—due in part to the limited insight from spring practices under Belichick—the sheer number of exits, along with some familiar names, points to the need for reinforcements. Quarterback is clearly one of those key areas.
Earlier in the cycle, UNC was mentioned as a potential landing spot for Nico Iamaleava following his fallout with Tennessee. Though no official contact was reported, it underscored the Tar Heels’ intent to bolster their quarterback depth. That need became even more apparent when former transfer commit Ryan Browne reentered the portal on Wednesday.
Lopez now enters a QB room that includes graduate senior Max Johnson and incoming four-star freshman Bryce Baker. Johnson is still recovering from a serious leg injury he suffered while at Minnesota in 2024, and his availability for the start of the 2025 season remains uncertain. Baker, the No. 11 QB in his class, has shown some promise but may not be ready to take on a starting role just yet.
That leaves Lopez as a likely candidate to take the reins. According to On3, UNC had been monitoring Lopez even before the portal officially opened—suggesting this wasn’t just a reactionary move, but a targeted pickup. Given Browne’s exit and the lingering questions around Johnson and Baker, the Madison, Alabama native looks like the early frontrunner to start Week 1 under Belichick.
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