14 for '14: Most explosive athletes in college football

There is nothing like a player who makes you hold your breath when he has the ball in his hands.

If he plays for "your" team, you love the idea that your team is only one big play away from a TD. If he plays for "that" team, you have butterflies in your stomach every time he carries or catches the ball.

And, increasingly, defenses have those hold-your-breath players, too -- guys that steam in off the edge or up the middle and blow up a play before it has a chance to truly get going.

Here's a look, then, at 14 such explosive players for the 2014 season (listed in alphabetical order), and stay tuned over the next couple weeks as we continue our "14 for '14" series, which will include a look at college football's most versatile players on Wednesday.

WR Dres Anderson, Utah

DE Vic Beasley, Clemson

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RB Tevin Coleman, Indiana

WR Sammie Coates, Auburn

WR Chase Cochran, Ohio

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WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

WR Jamison Crowder, Duke

WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland

WR Antwan Goodley, Baylor

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RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska

WR Jordan Leslie, BYU

WR Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

DT/DE Leonard Williams, USC

Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.