'it Just Felt Like Home': Leominster Junior Quarterback Osiris Lopez Commits To Coastal Carolina

LEOMINSTER — Due to logistics, the college commitment announcement for Leominster High junior quarterback Osiris Lopez was pushed back 90 minutes on the afternoon of May 14.

Lopez used that as an opportunity to hold an impromptu reveal party for where he planned to play Division 1 football.

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“I didn’t have my second class today, but it’s usually my life skills mentor class,” Lopez, 17, said. “I go in there with the life skills kids and help them do their work. And since my commitment was moved to 2:30, they couldn’t end up coming.

“So I went down there and did a little commitment thing for them. They got to enjoy it and experience everything, too.”

Not long after Lopez again was the center of attention, this time for a far larger gathering of students, staff, family, friends and fans in the school gymnasium.

The three-star recruit sat at a table flanked by his parents, Sharilynn Cormier and Dio Ovidio. Laid out in front of them were the pennants and hats of the five schools Lopez had narrowed his choice to from the 15 who offered him a scholarship.

The finalists, placed in alphabetical order, were James Madison, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Old Dominion and Syracuse.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out today,” Lopez said. “Obviously, my friends and family for getting me where I am today. The coaches helped me through the recruiting process and stuff.

“And this is the moment, so for the next three or four years, I will be going to …”

Then Lopez stood up and unzipped a gray sweatshirt to reveal a long-sleeved black T-shirt with a teal Chanticleer — or rooster — on it, that being the mascot of Coastal Carolina University, which is located 11 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

“I went there on a visit, and it just felt like home,” said Lopez, who will be making an official visit at the end of the month. “The coaches made me feel like myself out there. They didn’t try to sell their school; they were just themselves and I related to them so much.

“I felt like I fit into the system (Air Raid-style offense), and it felt like home when I went there, so I chose Coastal.”

Lopez settled on Coastal Carolina, which is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and finished 6-7 last year after playing in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, on May 9 after conferring with Blue Devils coach Devin Gates.

He admitted the decision wasn’t an easy one due to the abundance of interest he drew from quality schools, but it was a relief to put it behind him.

In part because it was tough not telling those other than his family and closest friends.

“It’s hard to keep a secret; I’m not going to lie,” Ortiz said. “I was so excited to tell everybody. I couldn’t wait, but it’s a great feeling to finally let it out and let everyone know so I don’t have to hide it anymore.”

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The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Lopez has started at quarterback since his freshman year, was the first sophomore to be named a captain in the storied history of Leominster football and was a repeat T&G Super Team selection as a junior.

Lopez, who is also a three-year varsity basketball player, has guided the Blue Devils to a 23-10 record and passed for nearly 6,500 yards and 82 touchdowns and averaged 9 yards a carry while rushing for close to 2,200 yards and 15 TDs.

As a part-time defensive player, he has snagged eight interceptions over the past two seasons.

“We don’t talk about stats or milestones or anything like that, it’s just about the wins and getting his teammates on board,” Gates said. “That’s the type of leader he is.

“He’s a tireless worker and someone who is dedicated to the game and is going to do things the right way.”

Lopez has a 3.4 grade point average, so he’s a true student-athlete, and one considering majoring in sports management in college.

He’s not only a quick learner in the classroom, but on the field.

“I’ve seen him grow from when he was coming in as a freshman and not understanding how to read a two-high or single-high safety, to now he’s seeing rotation and knowing how to watch film and what to look for,” Blue Devils offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Aaron Canterbury said.

“So it’s been a good progression. He progresses quickly when he wants to learn something and anything I teach him or tell him, whatever we’re working on, he applies it immediately.”

Lopez hung around for lots and lots of pictures after pledging his allegiance to Coastal Carolina before finally making his way down the quiet hallways and outside.

There were things to do and places to be.

“I’m going to the field, hitting the gym and going to bed,” Lopez said. “Repeat tomorrow.”

—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarven.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Leominster junior QB Osiris Lopez commits to Coastal Carolina