Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Crystal Balled to Land South Alabama Transfer QB, Out On Iamaleava

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For a second time today, the Tar Heels have received a forecast to land a transfer quarterback, but it may not be who you thought.

After reports earlier this morning that the team was the favorite to land Tennessee Volunteers transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava, On3 Sports transfer portal reporter Pete Nakos is reporting that the Tar Heels are out on him. The belief from other reports is that the team was able to afford the number he was wanting to play there and that they have pivoted to a new target.

Just moments after a report he was entering the transfer portal, 247Sports portal reporter has cast a crystal ball prediction for the Tar Heels to land South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez. Nakos also points to Lopez as the guy that the team has turned its focus to in the tweet about the Iamaleava news.

Lopez, a former 3✮ prospect in the class of 2023, entered the portal on Monday afternoon after a sophomore season where he earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention and led the Jaguars to a 6-5 (5-3) record. In his 11 starts, he threw for 2,559 yards and posted an 18-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio while running for 463 yards and seven touchdowns on 83 carries.

Lopez is regarded as one of the top portal entries at the quarterback spot in the spring portal window and would probably be regarded as the favorite to win the Tar Heels starting quarterback job this fall if he was . With three years of eligibility remaining, though, you have to wonder what kind of effect this could have on Bryce Baker, your prized recruit of this past recruiting cycle who showed you his potential on Saturday night in the ‘Practice Like a Pro’ event. In my personal opinion, I would rather see what you have in Baker and the rest of the guys on this roster, especially since Lopez would have to learn the playbook on the fly. The team also has a veteran presence that was with the team all spring in Max Johnson, who should be back from his leg injury during the summer and ready for fall camp.