| South Alabama Jaguars–No. 7 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class |  Freshman |
| Personal information | |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| Bowl games |
|
| High school | James Clemens (Madison, Alabama) |
| |
Giovanni Lopez is an American football quarterback for the South Alabama Jaguars.
Lopez attended James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama. [1] As a junior, he threw for 2,767 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading James Clemens to a ten-win season. [2] 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. [3] [4]
Lopez began his freshman season as a backup, before being named the starter against Troy. [5] In his first career start, he threw 155 yards in a 28–10 defeat. [6] 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. [7] [8] He finished his freshman season throwing for 475 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to running for 154 yards and two touchdowns. [9] Entering the 2024 season, he was named the Jaguar's starting quarterback. [10] [11] In the season opener against North Texas, he threw for 432 yards and totaled four touchdowns, before being sidelined by a toe injury. [12] He returned to action after missing one game. [13] Against Appalachian State, he Lopez totaled 259 yards and three total touchdowns, in a 48–14 rout. [14]
| South Alabama Jaguars | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Passing | 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 | 4 | 4 | 2–2 | 73 | 114 | 64.0 | 1,014 | 8.9 | 10 | 0 | 167.7 | 31 | 204 | 6.6 | 2 |
| Career | 9 | 5 | 2−3 | 114 | 175 | 65.1 | 1,489 | 8.5 | 14 | 2 | 160.7 | 49 | 358 | 7.3 | 4 |
The 68 Ventures Bowl is a postseason NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that has been played annually in Mobile, Alabama since 1999. In 2021, the game was moved from Ladd-Peebles Stadium to Hancock Whitney Stadium, on the campus of the University of South Alabama. The game currently matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference. Originally known as the Mobile Alabama Bowl during its first two playings, it has undergone many name changes.
Major Lee Applewhite is an American football coach and former player who has been the head coach for the South Alabama Jaguars since January of 2024. Prior to that he was the head coach at the University of Houston from 2017 to 2018, where he previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He started his coaching career in 2003 and in addition to South Alabama and Houston he has held various positions at Texas, Syracuse, Rice and Alabama.
The Battle for the Belt is an American college football rivalry game between two public universities in the U.S. state of Alabama, University of South Alabama Jaguars and the Troy University Trojans. Troy leads the all-time series at 9–3.
Jalen Alexander Hurts is an American professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He began his college football career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, leading the team to consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship appearances in 2016 and 2017. After being benched for Tua Tagovailoa during Alabama's victory in the latter championship, Hurts spent one season as a backup in 2018. He played his final season with the Oklahoma Sooners, leading them to an appearance in the 2019–20 College Football Playoff.
William Trevor Lawrence is an American professional football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Considered among the highest-touted college football prospects, he won the 2019 National Championship Game as a freshman with the Clemson Tigers and set the school's record for quarterback wins. Selected first overall by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft, Lawrence had a breakout season in 2022 when he led the Jaguars to their first division title and playoff win since 2017.
Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa is an American professional football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was named the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship during his freshman season. As a sophomore, Tagovailoa won the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards en route to an appearance in the 2019 National Championship.
Gardner Flint Minshew II is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Minshew began his college football career playing for the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers, where he won the NJCAA National Football Championship, and played his next two years for the East Carolina Pirates. He used his final year of eligibility with the Washington State Cougars, setting the Pac-12 Conference season records for passing yards and completions and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Bo Chapman Nix is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). The NCAA's leader in games played at the position, he played three seasons of college football for the Auburn Tigers and was named the 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year. In 2022, Nix transferred to the Oregon Ducks and was a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist after leading the FBS in touchdowns. He was selected by the Broncos 12th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
John Rhys Plumlee is an American professional football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and the UCF Knights as well as playing center fielder for both of their college baseball teams.
Jalen Curtis Tolbert is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Alabama Jaguars and was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Jalen Oluwaseun Isaiah Milroe is an American football quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Carson Raine Beck is an American football quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs. He was part of two national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Layne Hatcher is an American former football quarterback who played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Texas State Bobcats and Ball State Cardinals.
Carter Roy Bradley is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets and South Alabama Jaguars.
Cephus Lee Johnson III is an American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Alabama and Southeastern Louisiana.
La'Damian Tyreek Webb is an American football running back. He played college football for the Jones College Bobcats, the Florida State Seminoles and the South Alabama Jaguars.
Desmond Ryan Trotter is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the South Alabama Jaguars.
Robert Ezell is an American college football coach and former player. He is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of South Alabama, a position he has held since 2024.
Khalil Jacobs is an American football linebacker for the Missouri Tigers. He previously played for the South Alabama Jaguars.
Da'Marion "Fluff" Bothwell is an American football running back for the South Alabama Jaguars. His family's home burned down Christmas Eve 2023.