The UNC football team will head on the road in Week 1 of college football to take on Big Ten opponent Minnesota in Minneapolis. We have already outlined the offensive keys to this contest tomorrow, but now let's dive into what must happen on the defensive side of the ball for the Heels to have success in their opening game.

They will be up against a powerful running back in Darius Taylor who rushed for almost 800 yards and five touchdowns last season splitting time. They will also get a fresh face behind the offensive line of Minnesota as graduate transfer Max Brosmer has taken over the quarterback duties.

Their leading receiver from last season, Daniel Jackson, is back for another year as well. North Carolina's defense will have to be stellar for four quarters to withstand this Minnesota attack.

Here are some questions that will need to be answered for that to happen.

How will Amare Campbell's hand impact his game?

As a freshman, Amare Campbell started 11 games and totaled 14 tackles with 2.0 for a loss. He also had an interception and a sack as well. However, he was blossoming into a bigger role this season ... that was until he broke his hand in the preseason.

Campbell is expected to start and will play with a wrap on his hand. But how well can he perform with that on?

Caleb LaVallee, the redshirt freshman, is likely going to see some time behind Campbell in that role during this game.

Can Geoff Collins coordinate a successful gameplan?

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown brought in former ACC head coach Geoff Collins as the team's new defensive coordinator. The defense under Gene Chizik was not getting the job done and parting ways was inevitable.

Collins spent 2019-2022 with Georgia Tech and that pairing was not good either as he was fired after three seasons with the Yellow Jackets. His entire time with GT was not something to be noteworthy, and he is looking for a fresh start at UNC.

He is known as a "menace" on the defensive side of the ball and will look to put that expertise to use with a revamped core.

How aggressive will the defensive ends be?

North Carolina has the opportunity this season to have a pair of the most dominant edge rushers in the ACC if not the entire country. Kaimon Rucker is looking to have the best season of his career after have 15 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks last season for the Heels.

On the opposite side, Desmond Evans is looking to make a name for himself after having just five tackles for a loss and three sacks last season. The former four-star recruit will get the opportunity to be unleashed this season.

How many times can they get to Brosmer?

Can Power Echols be the leader of this group?

In two straight seasons, Power Echols has finished with 103 total tackles ranking No. 2 on the team behind Cedric Gray. With Gray in the NFL now, Echols will have the opportunity to not only set career highs but also assume the leadership role in the middle of the field.

He has been a dominant force on the defense, can Collins and this revamped scheme take Echols to the next level? Also, can Echols be the leader the defense needs him to be by leading other to bolster their game as well?

Will they hold Minnesota under 27 points?

Last season, UNC football allowed 27.31 points per game to opponents which was in the bottom five in points allowed per game in the ACC. They also allowed 404.4 yards of total offense per game by opponents throughout the 2023 season.

For the Heels to win ballgames this year and hopefully attain the first 12-team College Football Playoff, this defense is going to have to hold opponents to under 15 points per game. However, with game one, let's just try to beat the benchmark last year's defense set of 27.31 points.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : UNC football top defensive keys at Minnesota