Where do UNC quarterbacks land in preseason ACC rankings?
For the second-straight year, your North Carolina Tar Heels will enter their football season with a quarterback competition.
Max Johnson and Conner Harrell both played in the 2024 opener at Minnesota, but Arkansas transfer Jacolby Criswell ended up starting most of the season. This year, Johnson goes up against the likes of South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez and 4-star, class of 2025 signee Bryce Baker.
Though Johnson is UNC's most-experienced option, he's working his way back from a broken leg sustained at Minnesota. Lopez is the most exciting option, throwing for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 465 rushing yards and seven more scores. Baker threw for 6,605 yards and 79 touchdowns during his two season as East Forsyth's (Kernersville, N.C.) starter, so he's another viable choice.
USA TODAY Sports thinks that either Johnson or Lopez will be the starter for North Carolina. In their preseason ACC quarterback rankings, USA TODAY Sports ranks the Johnson-Lopez duo 17th amongst likely conference starters.
"Johnson's season was over before it really got started when he was injured in last year's opener at Minnesota, and he was still unable to participate in spring drills for new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick," Eddie Timanus wrote. "That might give the edge in the competition to Lopez, who transfers in from South Alabama, where he led the Jaguars to the program's first bowl win."
Johnson and Lopez are one spot behind Virginia's Chandler Morris, plus one spot ahead of Louisville's Miller Moss. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik leads the ACC preseason QB rankings.
If NIL money plays any part in who starts for the Tar Heels, Lopez has the upper hand. As part of Lopez' commitment to UNC, he obtained a 2-year, $4 million NIL contract.
Johnson has 5,923 career passing yards, 47 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions. North Carolina's QB competition is one to watch as the season approaches, beginning with a September 1 date against TCU under the Kenan Stadium Lights.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
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