Home / Sports / Wake Forest lands former UNC QB Gio Lopez
Wake Forest lands former UNC QB Gio Lopez
21 Jun
Summary
- Gio Lopez transfers to Wake Forest for the 2026 season.
- Lopez previously started at UNC and South Alabama.
- Wake Forest OC Rob Ezell coached Lopez at South Alabama.
Wake Forest has secured Gio Lopez as their starting quarterback for the upcoming 2026 season. Lopez joins the Demon Deacons after transferring from the UNC Tar Heels.
This move reunites Lopez with Wake Forest Offensive Coordinator Rob Ezell. Ezell previously served as the offensive coordinator for Lopez during his time at South Alabama.
Lopez's tenure with UNC in the 2025 season presented a mixed performance. In the season opener against TCU, he was benched after completing only 4-of-10 passes for 69 yards, throwing one interception and fumbling once, leading to two touchdowns for the Horned Frogs' defense.
However, in a subsequent game against rival Duke, Lopez demonstrated improved play, completing 21-of-27 passes for 204 yards and accounting for two touchdowns, one of which was a rushing score. A detailed film analysis of his play at UNC is available.
