College Football 2011: North Carolina Tar Heels' 7 Best Defensive Players

If you enjoy watching heart-pounding, power-based football games, you're in luck.

The North Carolina Tar Heels return 10 starters on defense in 2011, including six seniors. UNC allowed a respectable 23.2 points per game last season and looks to improve with nearly everyone back for more.

And with the offense losing seven starters, including quarterback T.J. Yates and tailback Johnny White, the defense will be required to step up.

Especially if the Tar Heels want to contend for what should be a tough battle in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Here are the seven best defensive players on UNC's roster.

Gene Robinson, SS

Gene Robinson's stats aren't breath-taking, but he is still one of the most competitive players in North Carolina's secondary.

The junior's speed and athleticism provides him the ability to use great acceleration off of the quarterback's throws. His quick break to the ball and I.Q. for his position makes him a nice asset to a secondary that allowed just over 204 yards per game in 2010.

Robinson stands at 5'11" and 190 pounds. He worked his way to 30 tackles and an interception during his 11 games played last season.

Matt Merletti, FS

Due to the NCAA violations that plagued Carolina in 2010, Matt Merletti was given to starting position.

Merletti lived up to his great opportunity, coming up with 37 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games. He also returned five kickoffs for 91 yards.

The 5'11", 200-pound safety started five games for the Tar Heels last year. He and his speed (4.45 second 40-yard dash) will be expected to make plays for Butch Davis' defense in 2011.

Kevin Reddick, MLB

Kevin Reddick is a tackle machine.

The 6'3", 240-pound barbarian led the team in tackles, thrashing his way to 74 (6.0 TFL) in 2010. He caught two interceptions and took one to the house.

Reddick, a junior, will be starting linebacker for the third straight year. His great size and speed for his position (4.67 second 40-yard dash) gives UNC a solid weapon up the middle against the rush.

Donte Paige-Moss, DE

According to Yahoo! Sports, Paige-Moss was the No. 2 ranked defensive end in the class of 2009.

He's doing everything he can to prove he should have been No. 1.

Paige-Moss is extremely athletic and talented for his position, and will only improve with more experience. His size (6'4", 260 pounds) has grown  to his advantage as he flies to the ball with his outstanding speed (4.6 second 40-yard dash).

The junior had 49 tackles (10 TFL) and seven sacks in 2010.

Carolina most likely wouldn't have beaten Tennessee in the Music City Bowl—Paige-Moss blocked a pivotal extra point in the fourth quarter.

Tydreke Powell, DT

Tydreke Powell is another talented addition to a stellar North Carolina defensive line.

Powell sits at 6’3″, 310 pounds and is a significant asset to a scary Tar Heel defense. He managed 47 tackles (3.0 TFL), 2.5 sacks and a forced a fumble in 2010.

The upcoming senior is projected to be selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, according to the NFL draft site.

The combination of Powell, Kevin Reddick and Quinton Coples will be near unstoppable when it comes to defending the ground game.

Zach Brown, OLB

Zach Brown (no relation to the country star) is arguably the fastest player on North Carolina's roster.

And he's a linebacker.

The Tar Heels' official athletic site has Brown listed for a 4.28 second 40-yard dash—that's faster than the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson (4.38).

His compelling size and speed aided him in his pursuit for 72 tackles (1.5 TFL) and three interceptions (113 INT return yards).

Brown adds to yet another strong linebacking core for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

I wonder if he likes his chicken fried...

QuInton Coples, DT

According to the NFL draft site, QuInton Coples is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2012 to the Carolina Panthers.

There is a plus side to being selected by the horrendous NFL bottom feeders—he wouldn't have to adjust to new jersey colors.

Coples was nominated to the first-team all-conference pick last season, ranking third in the ACC in sacks (10) and seventh in tackles for loss (15.5). The 6'7", 280-pound Tar Heel had 59 tackles overall and forced two fumbles.

An ESPN ACC blog has North Carolina's defensive line pre-ranked No. 1 in the conference.

No doubt about that.