UNC’s Approach on Offense Requires Adjustments from QB Gio Lopez

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens has made it a point of emphasis during North Carolina’s training camp to refer to the system he’s overseeing now in his new job as “our offense.”

Our, in this case, meaning the Tar Heels comprehensively as a coaching staff under Bill Belichick. But Kitchens’ past connections from working in the NFL across various stops for 16 seasons are sprinkled in the current mix, too.

It’s a gumbo flavored by influences such as Bill Parcells with the Dallas Cowboys, when a young Tony Romo emerged as the future of the franchise, and Ken Whisenhunt and Bruce Arians with the Arizona Cardinals, when Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer resurrected their NFL quarterbacking careers. And later, when No. 1 overall draft choice Baker Mayfield debuted with the Cleveland Browns.

“I had experiences in Dallas,” Kitchens said. “I had experiences in Arizona. I had experiences in Cleveland. And I even had some experiences in New York. Coach Belichick’s had experiences in New England and Cleveland. We’ve got a great offensive staff that has had experiences everywhere. So when we came together as an offensive staff, this is becoming our offense. Of course, you’re going to take what you’ve lived, and that’s what I’ve done. But it’s a conglomeration of everyone, and everyone’s ideas and things like that. Now ultimately, you have to make a decision on things. So that happens, ultimately. But it’s up to our room, moving up the ladder, to come together and it becomes our offense. That’s just what it is.

“But yeah, we have plays from Arizona. We have plays from Cleveland. We have plays from New York. We have plays from Rolesville High School (in North Carolina). It doesn’t matter. We just want the best football plays for our players. We don’t really care where they come from. But collectively, we do all that together.”

For transfer quarterback Gio Lopez, who arrived at UNC in May after spring practices had concluded, there are certain aspects of piloting this pro-style offensive scheme that are requiring an adjustment, while the Tar Heels continue preparing for the approaching 2025 season and their Sept. 1 opener against TCU.

The lefty Lopez is UNC’s expected starter. Before training camp opened, he mentioned his previous offense at South Alabama under Major Applewhite didn’t use anywhere near the number of looks with multiple tight end sets that are part of the Tar Heels’ new playbook.

Of greater significance, Lopez all but exclusively played out of the shotgun formation at South Alabama. For example, during the Jaguars’ blowout victory at Appalachian State last season and defeat of Western Michigan in the Salute to Veterans Bowl, Lopez didn’t take a meaningful snap from under center in either game — whether backed up in his own territory against the goal line or in short-yardage situations on the other side of the field in the red zone. Now, as sources close to the UNC program have reiterated this week, Lopez is operating under center far more in Carolina’s new offense.

“It’s more of an NFL-like offense,” Lopez said at the ACC Kickoff preseason event. “It’s different when you’re at South Alabama. You’re watching tape and you’re bringing up South Alabama tape. And then when you turn on tape with Kitchens, it’s the Patriots, or when he was the head coach with the Browns. You’re like, ‘wow, I’m watching NFL guys, where I want to be, I’m watching them execute this play.’ So it’s been awesome learning from him.”

On Tuesday, a source cautioned to Inside Carolina these 2025 Tar Heels are a team that “has no superstars.” But Lopez proved to be one of the most productive quarterbacks on the Group of Five level at South Alabama. He produced 274.7 yards of total offense last season, ranking No. 22 nationally in the FBS among that category.

He finished fourth in the Sun Belt in passing (2,559 yards or 232.6 yards per game) last season, fourth in touchdown passes (18), fourth in completion percentage (206-for-312 or 66 percent), and third in fewest interceptions (five). He also ran for 465 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

And Todd McShay, the longtime NFL Draft evaluator and college football analyst, had effusive praise for Lopez (6-foot, 203 pounds) this week on his 2025 college football primer podcast. McShay remarked that Lopez “jumped out” earlier this summer at the famed Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana.

“He’s short but unbelievably athletic,” he said of Lopez on The McShay Show. “He snaps the ball off. I went to see certain quarterbacks at the Manning Passing Academy. And we know the names — (LaNorris) Sellers, (Cade) Klubnik, (Garrett) Nussmeier, obviously, and a handful of others. I was disappointed that (Drew) Allar wasn’t there. I was disappointed that (Fernando) Mendoza wasn’t there, even though he desperately wanted to be.

“But then this Gio Lopez guy stood out. And he was just ripping the ball. And I’m not talking about NFL Draft. I’m talking about college football this year. Bill Belichick chose him. And he doesn’t look anything like (Tom) Brady, and he doesn’t play anything like Brady. But there’s a reason. I’m fascinated to see how that goes at UNC this year.”