Gio Lopez
{{Short description|American football player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
|name=Gio Lopez
|image=
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption=
|school=North Carolina Tar Heels
|currentnumber=
|currentposition=Quarterback
|class=File:Redshirt.svg Sophomore
|major=
|birth_date=
|birth_place=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|height_ft=6
|height_in=0
|weight_lb=220
|pastschools=
- South Alabama (2023–2024)
- North Carolina (2025–present)
|bowlgames=
- 2023 68 Ventures Bowl (MVP)
|highschool=James Clemens (Madison, Alabama)
|highlights=
|espn=4920227
}}
Giovanni Lopez is an American football quarterback for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He previously played for the South Alabama Jaguars.
High school career
Lopez attended James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-06 |title=First Down Friday Night MVP - James Clemens QB Gio Lopez |url=https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/sports/first-down-friday-night-mvp-james-clemens-qb-gio-lopez/525-af03d22b-69fe-4ef5-a35a-236b0073f457 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=rocketcitynow.com |language=en-US}} As a junior, he threw for 2,767 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading James Clemens to a ten-win season.{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Nick |date=2021-11-16 |title=How James Clemens QB Giovanni Lopez seized opportunity in 2021 |url=https://www.al.com/recruiting/2021/11/opportunity-finally-presented-itself-to-giovanni-lopez-in-2021-heres-how-the-james-clemens-quarterback-seized-it.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=al |language=en}} A three-star recruit, Lopez committed to play college football at the University of South Alabama over offers from Charlotte, Jacksonville State, Troy, and UAB.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2022-04-16 |title=James Clemens quarterback Gio Lopez commits to South Alabama for 2023 class |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2022/04/james-clemens-quarterback-gio-lopez-commits-to-south-alabama-for-2023-class.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=al |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Labbe |first=Bob |date=2022-12-23 |title=Jets' Gio Lopez Signs With USA |url=https://themadisonrecord.com/2022/12/23/jets-gio-lopez-signs-with-usa/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=The Madison Record}}
College career
= South Alabama =
Lopez began his freshman season as a backup, before being named the starter against Troy.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2023-11-02 |title=South Alabama QB Carter Bradley out vs. Troy, freshman Gio Lopez to start |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2023/11/south-alabama-qb-carter-bradley-out-vs-troy-freshman-gio-lopez-to-start.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=al |language=en}} In his first career start, he threw 155 yards in a 28–10 defeat.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Daeshen |date=2023-11-03 |title=South Alabama falls to Troy in annual Battle for the Belt |url=https://www.fox10tv.com/2023/11/03/south-alabama-falls-troy-annual-battle-belt/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=FOX10 |language=en}} In the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, Lopez totaled 280 total yards and four total touchdowns, leading South Alabama to their first bowl game victory in program history, and being named the game's MVP.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-24 |title=Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to 59-10 rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl |url=https://aldailynews.com/gio-lopez-leads-south-alabama-to-59-10-rout-of-eastern-michigan-in-68-ventures-bowl/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Alabama Daily News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Elmore |first=Josiah |title=James Clemens alum leads South Alabama to first bowl win in program history |url=https://whnt.com/news/huntsville/james-clemens-alum-leads-south-alabama-to-first-bowl-win-in-program-history/ |website=WHNT}} He finished his freshman season throwing for 475 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to running for 154 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Athletics |first=South Alabama |date=2024-05-31 |title=James Clemens alum Gio Lopez Invited to Manning Passing Academy |url=https://www.waaytv.com/news/james-clemens-alum-gio-lopez-invited-to-manning-passing-academy/article_363143ee-1f8d-11ef-9ba0-4765b00b3761.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=WAAY 31 News |language=en}} Entering the 2024 season, he was named the Jaguar's starting quarterback.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2024-08-20 |title=Gio Lopez named South Alabama's starting quarterback for 2024 season-opener |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/08/gio-lopez-named-south-alabamas-starting-quarterback-for-2024-season-opener.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=al |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Tommy |date=2024-08-30 |title=Lopez takes over as Jags' QB1 |url=https://www.lagniappemobile.com/sports/lopez-takes-over-as-jags-qb1/article_e500f1c6-66e6-11ef-8caf-13931ef34a56.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Lagniappe Daily |language=en}} In the season opener against North Texas, he threw for 432 yards and totaled four touchdowns, before being sidelined by a toe injury.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2024-09-07 |title=South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez doubtful for Ohio game |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/09/south-alabama-quarterback-gio-lopez-doubtful-for-ohio-game.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=al |language=en}} He returned to action after missing one game.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2024-09-09 |title=South Alabama hopeful QB Gio Lopez can return Thursday vs. Northwestern State |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/09/south-alabama-hopeful-qb-gio-lopez-can-return-thursday-vs-northwestern-state.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=al |language=en}} Against Appalachian State, he Lopez totaled 259 yards and three total touchdowns, in a 48–14 rout.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Gio Lopez has 3 total TDs as South Alabama dominates Appalachian State in 48-14 win |url=https://apnews.com/article/south-alabama-appalachian-state-score-d1d5697b4be0fa7d27622960620b7c42 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=AP News |language=en}} Lopez finished the 2024 season, throwing for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns while also rushing for 463 yards and seven touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2024-12-11 |title=Quarterback Gio Lopez indicates he's staying at South Alabama for 2025 season |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/12/quarterback-gio-lopez-indicates-hes-staying-at-south-alabama.html |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=al |language=en}} In April 2025, he entered the transfer portal during the spring window.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-14 |title=Sources: South Alabama QB Lopez to enter portal |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44675739/sources-south-alabama-qb-gio-lopez-enter-transfer-portal |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Labbe |first=Bob |date=2025-04-16 |title=Gio Lopez enters transfer portal, may land at North Carolina |url=https://www.themadisonrecord.com/2025/04/16/gio-lopez-enters-transfer-portal-may-land-north-carolina/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.themadisonrecord.com |language=en-US}}
= North Carolina =
On April 17, 2025, Lopez announced his decision to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels.{{Cite web |last=Baxley |first=Rodd |title=South Alabama QB Gio Lopez commits to UNC football, Bill Belichick |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/acc/2025/04/17/gio-lopez-unc-football-bill-belichick-transfer-portal-south-alabama-quarterback/83129999007/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=The Fayetteville Observer |language=en-US}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="3" | Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4" | Rushing | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| 2023
| 5 || 1 || 0–1 || 41 || 61 || 67.2 || 475 || 7.8 || 4 || 2 || 147.7 || 18 || 154 || 8.6 || 2 | |||||||||||||||
| 2024
| 11 || 11 || 6–5 || 206 || 312 || 66.0 || 2,559 || 8.2 || 18 || 5 || 150.8 || 83 || 465 || 5.6 || 7 | |||||||||||||||
| 2025
| 0 || 0 || 0–0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4920227/gio-lopez Career] | 16 | 12 | 6−6 | 247 | 373 | 66.2 | 3,034 | 8.1 | 22 | 7 | 150.3 | 101 | 619 | 6.1 | 9 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://usajaguars.com/sports/football/roster/gio--lopez/11074 South Alabama Jaguars bio]
{{South Alabama Jaguars quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Gio}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People from Madison, Alabama
Category:Players of American football from Madison County, Alabama